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From: ph@ama-1.ama.caltech.edu (Paul Hardy)
Newsgroups: rec.audio.high-end
Subject: Re: Leaving components turned on.
Message-ID: <8809@uwm.edu>
Date: 10 Jan 91 14:20:39 GMT
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In article <8756@uwm.edu> chowkwan@priam.usc.edu (Raymond Chowkwanyun) writes:

>   I have a Tice Variac...$700...I wonder if it
>   wouldn't be more cost-effective to just replace the tubes 
>   as they wear out.
>
>   If you're really interested, Audio Advisor sells them.
>   (800) 942-0220.
>
>   -- ray

Tice has very nice products, but I'm put off by their prices.  Someone wrote
a letter to the editor of Sterophile or TAS a couple of years ago or so in
response to a Tice line conditioner review, and pointed out that instead of
spending $2000 on line conditioners, you could have the electric company
install a separate mains line for your audio equipment in your home for $1000
with better results.

I heard about the Tice power-up product before they began selling it.  Then,
it was going to have some electronic timing gizmo for the 10 second power-up
sequence.  Even with that (what could it possibly have been at that price?)
I personally thought their cost of $700 was way too high to buy one.

I think Tice is right though: you shouldn't run hungry equipment at 100% from
a Variac.  But a simple make-then-break switch could be used in parallel with
the Variac after the dial's been brought up to 100%.

I have two VTL 70/140 Watt Monoblocks (70 Watts in triode mode, 140 in tetrode
mode -- upgrade from the 60/120s).  I run them in Class A triode mode (70 Watts
is fine for me in my apartment, even with my inefficient Maggies, and the
sound is beautiful) and decided to leave them on all the time.  The power
consumed can't be too great; my electric bill is under $40 a month, and
I have various modern conveniences (refrigerator, a couple of computers &
random electronic gear, electric heat, etc.)  I listen to the equipment in
the morning and evening, and sometimes during lunchtime, and it could be that
three power-ups per day is far more damaging than leaving it on all the time
anyways.  Time will tell!  I suppose DC high-rail power supplies would be
even less detrimental to the tubes.  These amps do have DC heater voltage
supplies.

                                   --Paul
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