Why Preamps Thump on Turn on


I posted a fun discussion on my blog to get into the details of this turn-on phenomenon. 

 

 

erik_squires

I leave my preamp on 24/7 - same as my amp. Both transistor. No thump from either on turn on/off. 

I turn on my McIntosh preamp and it then turns on my Mac power amp and Mac tuner,  No thumps or pops in my system.

This happens with asr amir too - in his rush to have a reply for everything in making response to anything, he too never reads first much, in then making an answer to an entirely different issue of his own manufacture. 😆

When turning on  digital I always leave on , 

then preamp ,then amplifier,

when shutting off , Amplifier then preamp, in that order is the correct way.

that thump is DC still on the line,  do you have a tube preamp ?

if so follow this sequence.

There are some amps that get an inrush of power and cause a thump some people developed relays as a solution to this.my old carvers are an example and aftermarket has a no thump circuit  for this

Interesting ...

I have an old NAD 7220PE coupled with Spectrum 208A speakers that I acquired for dorm life way back.  Powering up would also produce a rolling 50hz burp ... 

Have a Holman APT pre coupled with Odyssey Kismet amp, which are dead-silent.

Kind of miss the burp ...

I am often reminded how difficult it is to write something that others find fun and engaging. 

Agreed with audioman58.
I would always turn on the source components first, then preamp, then power amp last. And when shutting down my system I would always power off the power amp first, then preamp, then source components last. it’s dead silent, no thump.
That thump is DC still on the line like what audioman58 described above.

Carvin Audio Explanation. Substitute Preamp for Mixer.

"THE RIGHT ORDER TO TURN THINGS ON

Before anything else, let’s review the power up sequence for a common live sound scenario. Power up in this order:

  1. Sound sources like keyboards and synths that are connected to the mixer
  2. Mixer
  3. Power amps
  4. Powered speakers and stage monitors

 

  1. PROPER POWER DOWN SEQUENCE

    As you might imagine, spikes occur when you turn equipment off as well. Since all the gear is on before you start powering down, you’ll need to power off in the opposite direction (first in last out). So in the example above, active speakers and power amps would be turned off first (so they don’t receive a spike from the mixer), then the mixer…and finally the onstage gear connected to the mixer."

Some power controllers have sequenced power banks that do this for you.

I've always read proper turn on sequence is:

1. Preamp along with everything connected to it.

2. Amp.

Shutdown is the opposite

 BUT..... My preamp is connected to my amp with a wire that turns both on at the same time when you do a startup with the preamp remote control.

 Neither the preamp nor the amp instantly come on, there's a few seconds of delay.

 You can here a click in each when they actually power on. I assume this makes the startup procedure okay? Just want to be sure, thanks.

 

 

Amplifiers should always be turned on 1st and last off!  This will eliminate speaker thump due to large current inrush filling capacitors in the amplifier.

I follow the instructions provided to me in my Aesthetix Callisto Eclipse line stage preamp. Power it up first and let it warm up for at least ten minutes prior to powering up my CJ LP27M monoblocks. Shut down is the reverse order. With this, I've never heard an in rush thump

Amplifiers should always be turned on 1st and last off! This will eliminate speaker thump due to large current inrush filling capacitors in the amplifier.

The inrush current is the same whether first or last.  However, turning it on first will cause the amp to amplify any thumps caused by upstream components, if any.

The amp may cause the AC voltage to dip momentarily, but that's not a problem for any other components that are already on.