Tube amps should NEVER be turned on without some type of load hooked up. Anyone that has done so has been lucky to say the least. I have seen a few output transformers that literally "melted down" from doing such.
The output section of a SS amp performs differently and would deal with this situation a little better. However, one should NOT have the amp on with ANY type of signal being passed with no load on it. Only BAD things can happen in such a case. This goes for both SS and tube gear.
If you are going to leave an amp on or try to burn in a cable without having to listen to the output, you need to at least connect a 8 - 16 ohm resistor across either the speaker leads or binding posts. This simulates a speaker load and protects the amp. Depending on the wattage of the resistor, you may be able to pass signal through it but i would not recommend advancing the volume control very high at all. This will act as what is known as a low power "dummy load".
The resistors that i'm going to mention are available from Parts Express ( www.partsexpress.com ). The part numbers for "generic" resistors that will handle up to 10 watts are 004-X. Substitute the actual impedance value for the "X". For instance, a 2 ohm would be 004-2, 004-8 would be an 8 ohm, 004-16 would be a 16 ohm, etc...
If you would like slighly higher powered resistors or "higher quality" models for use in a zobel network, try the 12 watt Mills. Part numbers work like the above but the values available are slightly different. Use 005-X with the resistance value being substituted for the "X". These are twice the price, handle slightly more power and are of tighter tolerance.
If you want to increase power handling, you can use multiple resistors in parralel or series, depending on the values that you choose. Just be careful to end up with a value that is suitable for your amplifier as a load. Going too low can stress the output devices and increase unnecessary heat.
Having said all of that, trying to burn interconnects in on a system is next to futile once you've heard the diferences of them being run on a Mobie or equivalent cable burner. Even with hundreds upon hundreds of hours on them, they would still not sound as relaxed or transparent as a cable that was run on a Mobie for just a few days. If you don't have access to a cable burner, try making friends with someone who has one and is an "overall nice guy" : ) Hope this helps.... Sean
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The output section of a SS amp performs differently and would deal with this situation a little better. However, one should NOT have the amp on with ANY type of signal being passed with no load on it. Only BAD things can happen in such a case. This goes for both SS and tube gear.
If you are going to leave an amp on or try to burn in a cable without having to listen to the output, you need to at least connect a 8 - 16 ohm resistor across either the speaker leads or binding posts. This simulates a speaker load and protects the amp. Depending on the wattage of the resistor, you may be able to pass signal through it but i would not recommend advancing the volume control very high at all. This will act as what is known as a low power "dummy load".
The resistors that i'm going to mention are available from Parts Express ( www.partsexpress.com ). The part numbers for "generic" resistors that will handle up to 10 watts are 004-X. Substitute the actual impedance value for the "X". For instance, a 2 ohm would be 004-2, 004-8 would be an 8 ohm, 004-16 would be a 16 ohm, etc...
If you would like slighly higher powered resistors or "higher quality" models for use in a zobel network, try the 12 watt Mills. Part numbers work like the above but the values available are slightly different. Use 005-X with the resistance value being substituted for the "X". These are twice the price, handle slightly more power and are of tighter tolerance.
If you want to increase power handling, you can use multiple resistors in parralel or series, depending on the values that you choose. Just be careful to end up with a value that is suitable for your amplifier as a load. Going too low can stress the output devices and increase unnecessary heat.
Having said all of that, trying to burn interconnects in on a system is next to futile once you've heard the diferences of them being run on a Mobie or equivalent cable burner. Even with hundreds upon hundreds of hours on them, they would still not sound as relaxed or transparent as a cable that was run on a Mobie for just a few days. If you don't have access to a cable burner, try making friends with someone who has one and is an "overall nice guy" : ) Hope this helps.... Sean
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