Does it matter which component I power up first?

As many of those who responded above have said, proper practice is to turn the amp on last and off first. And I would add that after turning it off, it would be a good idea to wait some seconds before turning off the upstream component(s), until the amp is no longer capable of producing sound from stored energy. IME some solid state amps can produce an output for most of a minute after being turned off.

Whether or not failure to adhere to that sequence will cause a problem is obviously dependent on the design of the specific components. In many or most cases it won't result in a problem. But there is no point to taking any chances.

Also, in a situation where a separate preamp and power amp are being used it is entirely conceivable that circuitry in the preamp that is located "after" (i.e., downstream of) the volume control could generate a turn-on or turn-off transient. Having the volume control turned down would not help in those situations.

Many years ago, as a result of a momentary mental lapse I either plugged or unplugged (I forget which) the AC power to a Mark Levinson ML-1 preamplifier (which does not have a power switch, as it is designed to be left on all the time), while its output was connected into a powered up 200 watt amplifier. The result was torn surrounds in the woofers of both speakers.

Regards,
-- Al

Lupinthe3rd, when you get as old as some of us sometimes you tend to forget things. :^) You are correct, of course, that your method works fine as well.

The reason you turn on the amps last is to avoid amplifying any turn on transients from source or upstream components. Yes, some of them emit some pretty intense transients, including my Nagra PLL

Follow you owner's manual advice. You can probably avoid the turn-on thump problems doing as Lupinthe3rd does and muting or turning the volume all the way down on the integrated amp, but you do risk a disturbing sound if you forget to do that, and some mute circuits don't entirely cut off signals, depending on the design.

Tbromgard.. Your manual is correct.

My owners manual says to turn on the sources on first, then the amp. To power down: amp first, then sources.

It isn't that I don't "believe" you. With the volume turned all the way down, the claimed issue is nonexistent. Why would I want to do it with volume all the way up?

Preamp, sources, power amp last on. Power amp off first. Don't believe the rest of us? Do it your way with the volume all the way up.

FWIW, I do precisely the opposite of what is being prescribed here. I turn my amp on FIRST, before the other components, and I turn it off LAST.

It's an integrated amp (Decware Zen Torii). I keep the volume adjustment knob turned all the way down during power on & off, and I've never heard any audible "pop" from the speakers. Not when powering on/off the amp, other components, or when switching sources.

As I have no audible pop, I see no reason to alter my process.

Then you leave the tube preamp on 24/7 too.

I know all about the power on/off sequence and have heard the "thump" in my systems, but what about the manufacturers of high power SS amps who recommend leaving them on 24/7? (even with a tube preamp).

Amplifier on last off first.

Any tube preamp without auto mute should be turned on first and given enough time to stabilize before turning on the amplifier.

Why would the order matter? What's the technical reason behind the amp "last on first off" recommendation?

Jea48 is correct
If you turn your amp on first you could get a pop when you turn on the Phono. When you power down you could get a pop if you turn off the phono first. If you do it in the correct order you will not have to move your selector switch at all
Alan

Always heard amps...last on, first off.

The way you do it is fine!

Power up,
Phono preamp >>> then integrated amp.

Power down,
Integrated amp >>> then phono preamp.

Power amp should always be last on, first off....
.

Power up/down sequence is VERY important. To power up, I turn on the Manley Chinook phono stage first, followed by the Mystere CA11 tube preamp, Rega Planar 25 turntable, followed by the CODA 10.5r solid state amplifier. To power down, reverse the sequence. Others may have different ideas on what works best. Hope that helps!