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Leaving NVA amps switched on - in the modern world of sustainability?
Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 7:55 pm
by Copperblue
Just wondering what other users are doing in the face of environmental and sustainability moral dilemmas and of course energy bills etc?
I leave my power amps on but I’ve been recently thinking I shouldn’t…though I recall RD mentioning that regularly switching on power amps is more likely to cause issues.
Re: Leaving NVA amps switched on - in the modern world of sustainability?
Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 8:42 pm
by Latteman
If I know I’m not going to be able to use it for a day+ then it’s all off
Re: Leaving NVA amps switched on - in the modern world of sustainability?
Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 9:43 pm
by TheMarlin
I left mine in constantly, 24/7, 365.
Re: Leaving NVA amps switched on - in the modern world of sustainability?
Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 9:59 pm
by Nigel
TheMarlin wrote: ↑Thu Feb 23, 2023 9:43 pm
I left mine in constantly, 24/7, 365.
Fair play to you. Even in my younger days, I could never manage anything like that.
Re: Leaving NVA amps switched on - in the modern world of sustainability?
Posted: Thu Feb 23, 2023 11:52 pm
by Fretless
RD's view was to leave the amps constantly on - which is why he (the first to do so) put the power switch on the back in the mid 80's. The NVA amplifier I demo'd back then had a big red LED switch on the front, the one I ordered came with the switch on the back.
NVA amps use virtually no power whilst on but not playing and they take about 4 hours to stabilise from cold. Also on/off switching can shorten the life-span of some components.
Re: Leaving NVA amps switched on - in the modern world of sustainability?
Posted: Fri Feb 24, 2023 11:27 am
by TheMarlin
Nigel wrote: ↑Thu Feb 23, 2023 9:59 pm
TheMarlin wrote: ↑Thu Feb 23, 2023 9:43 pm
I left mine in constantly, 24/7, 365.
Fair play to you. Even in my younger days, I could never manage anything like that.
Wasn’t difficult, laziness was a great advantage here
It barely used any power just sat there with everything else turned off (all sources unplugged, just amps left warm). The M300’s always sound great immediately, rather than taking a while to find their stride.
I’ve had a few NVA failures, always seemingly happening due to power up/off. So this was just a way of protecting the amps. I only powered them down when I sold them.
And I only sold them because I’ve got really nice old tube amps which I’m terribly fond of. Had them rebuilt (Leak Stereo 20 and Radford STA25).
I find NVA amps beautiful detailed and neutral. And it’s a very relaxed soundstage. The old valve amps are a bit more in your face, I’m not sure they’re better amps, just more ‘me’. And they’re ever so funky looking, and confuse the hell out of the grandkids