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Quicken the burn in time for new speakers by using a cheaper SS amp?

I'm in the process of buying a new pair of speakers and I would like to burn them in quickly without using my main tube amp (I'm new to the tube amp scene, but it's my understanding that you should not run a tube amps for very long periods) and by running them for longer periods using a much cheaper SS amp.  I'm thinking about using a cheap $125 Integrated Yamaha Amp http://www.amazon.com/Yamaha-R-S201BL-2-Channel-Stereo-Receiver/dp/B00F0H88SY/ref=sr_1_1?s=electroni....  The new speakers are going to run me about $3K.  I'm willing to buy the cheaper amp just to burn in the new speakers.  Any advice or comments would be appreciated.  
nycjlee
xti16
1,525 posts
 
IMO I would use a SS amp to burn in. When I had my Octave and needed to break in new speakers I borrowed a SS amp to run them 7/24 for 450 hrs (approx 19 days). When I went to work I didn't want any output tube failures even though Octave has a fantastic protection circuit. I had several SED 6550 and EL34 failures but I did get my Octave just before the shut down the plant in Russia for quality problems. SED were the stock tubes. Not all tube amps have have protection circuits like Octave but use a resistor that will burn when a tube arcs over.
jea48
4,265 posts
 

I wouldn’t want to leave a tube power amp left unattended for hours on end. I also can’t see the clock running wasting tube life of the power tubes. Average life of power tubes being around 1500 to 2000 hours.

The solid state amp sounds like the way to go to break-in the new speakers. Not sure I would go with the cheap amp you are considering buying though. Why not buy a better quality used amp for just a little bit more money.

You also might want to consider a used 2 channel receiver. You can then use the FM tuner for the music source.

If you have a B&M dealer in your town you want to check if he has any used equipment he has taken in on trade in.

You can also pick up a great used 5.1 A/V receiver cheap.



nycjlee OP
286 posts
 
I'm considering a decent used amp as well.  Thanks for the input guys.  
rodman99999
5,980 posts
 
What jea48 said, plus 1.     Buy an old stereo receiver and tune it to a rap station(a heavy bass genre).    Place your speakers close together, hook them up out of phase(with each other) and facing one another, with a blanket over them.  Much of the sound will cancel out that way and not drive you crazy.
almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
Adding to the earlier comments about the ability of the Yamaha receiver to handle the load that will be presented by the speakers you are purchasing, I would point out that marked on the rear panel of the Yamaha, next to the speaker terminals, are the words "A or B:  8 ohm min/speaker."  Also, it does not have a specified power rating for 4 ohm loads.  So I would definitely not use that receiver with speakers having less than an 8 ohm impedance.

Also, the Yamaha's frequency response is only specified down to 40 Hz, which might lessen its effectiveness in breaking in your woofers.

Finally, I would assume that like most aspects of its design the protection mechanisms it incorporates are designed to a (low) price point.  Which means that if it fails in certain ways it could conceivably damage your speakers.

Regards,
-- Al
 
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