On my Vinni Rossi L2ise which uses
Takatsuki TA-300B tubes at $1,500 a pair in the pre-amp section (which runs tubes more gently than in most amps) I turn on an hour before use as I can tell the improvement in sound quality, then leave after session on if I will be listening again in a few hours. If wife is away and I will be listening off and on all day or weekend, then I leave on and can tell it gets even better after 24 hours.
rule of thumb: how long do you leave a tube preamp on versus turning it off then back on?
I just upgraded to an Audio Research REF 10 with 12 tubes and I am wondering how to best preserve the tubes. How long sitting turned on is equal to the wear and tear of turning it off then on again? I had a Rogue RP 7 with just four tubes so I didn't worry about this issue so much, I just turned it on when I began to listen then off at the end of the evening. Now I'm wondering where the sweet spot is? Away for a hour, two, three, turn it off when? Am I over-thinking this issue?