Sound becomes less open/smeared (less detailed)
Hi all.
Strange phenomena but when I play music (and leave my set on for days) the sound becomes less detailed (smeared). I know it's the pre amp (Bryston BP25).
After switching it off and then switching it on (after waiting a couple of minutes) the sound is more open and detailed.
It's strange because I also have the general experience when listening to stuff which has been turned on not long ago, sound is a little harsh and grainy at first. With use it gets more fluid and smooth. But my experience with this preamp is many times the opposite (but just after many hours).
Can someone explain this behaviour?
Storage is actually more damaging to electrolytic caps than regular use. I would go so far as to say that being on 24/7 is probably the best scenario for longevity, as long as operating conditions are within spec of course. Manufacturers usually guarantee a six-month shelf life for electrolytics, although in real life they do last much longer. @emergingsoul what exactly do you mean by "cold storage"? That’s usually synonymous for refrigerated.
|
@emergingsoul - if by "a while" you mean years, or more than one year - do not just plug your McIntosh straight into the wall when you do decide to use it again. Plug it into a variac and bring up the voltage slowly, starting around 30-40V, over a period of a couple of hours. You should see the amp "wake up" - lights lighting up, etc - around 60-70V. Keep notching up the voltage slowly until you reach 120V. Keep an eye out for smoke, excessive heat, and other such unpleasantness; unplug if anything doesn't look right. This slow, progressive ramp-up will give your dried-out electrolytics a chance to re-form.
|
