What is your ‘switch on’ ritual /process?

[lostwin]

So, just settling down and turning on the HiFi for the evening. I now realise that my switch on process is so convoluted that I’ll have to leave instructions in my will !

First plug in the AC regenerator (the fans on idle are noisy, so keep unplugged). Then take the lid off the TT and stow half way across the room (away from sound reflections). This works as the regenerator takes 10 seconds to get going. Reach way under the rack to feel for the switch for the TT power supply. Next flick the switch on the Vida PS, then the valve pre pausing for a few seconds to hear the soft start gradually let the transformer hum emerge.

Then, if I’ve not played the system for a few days, I’ll delve behind the speakers to make sure the Velcro holding the external crossovers has not failed again…press firmly back in place.

Now to the John Wood KT88. I still find it an intimidating, frankly, scary thing. A check of the connection behind, no potential shorts?, then flick the power and stand back, it’s a bit like proding a dragon to wake it up.

……Wait 10 mins while the KT88’s warm through….

Still need to select an an LP, clamp it down, brush the stylus, sweep clean the record, cue the tonearm, lower the stylus….

….Set the pre volume

….Un-mute the VIDA

and if you are lucky, sound emerges…

You are all as bad, aren’t you?

 

[garn63]

Bloody ell..I only shave once a week these days ?
0.28 seconds is my record for how quick I get the music on in the mornings.

 

[luxury_scruff]

Mad forum this. Put that attention to your partner fella. She complains about you even though you think she doesn't.

 

[lostwin]

Mad forum this. Put that attention to your partner fella. She complains about you even though you think she doesn't.

All sorted, my wife has an exhaustive start up ritual as well, one in which I am well versed…

 

[newlash09]

I leave all my kit on.....everything. I just switch on my power regenerator, which takes about 5 secs to provide my wanted voltage and frequency. And then everything comes ON... but there is no way in heaven or hell that either my daughter or my wife can get a note purting out of these speakers . The system is too complex as it is. Iam already worried about how to word my will

 

[Le Baron]

I have a man do that sort of thing. When I emerge from my morning toilet and Turkish bath everything is miraculously ready.

 

[lostwin]

I have a man do that sort of thing. When I emerge from my morning toilet and Turkish bath everything is miraculously ready.

For a minute I thought you were talking about your wife…

 

[Tony_J]

I leave all my kit on.....everything.

I should hope so too...I mean, sitting listening to music after taking all your kit off would be a bit...well...weird

 

[Lurch]

Power Inspired Regen, Node2 and MLs are powered, up 24/7 so I run left to right. Lh Power amp, DAC + select input, DDC, Rh power amp. If intending to use CDP and/or TT, then CDP PS and/or Phono PS turned on. Amps are out of startup by then so straight to tunes from Node whilst phono and/or CDP warm up (both have valves in as does the DAC).

Sit down. Relax. Swear. Get back up again, walk across room to change input on Pre to Node as forgot I was listening to vinyl before I went to bed last night.

 

[Strider]

The Rpi 3 with top hat I2S coax is always on into Cambridge Audio C840 DAC.
1st - Cambridge Audio 840C
The RPi4 with Kadas Toneboard always on.
Finally Rega Elicit R amplifier.

From my first days in recording, AV etc was never to switch on a source after you've switched on your amplifier(s).

 

[Le Baron]

From my first days in recording, AV etc was never to switch on a source after you've switched on your amplifier(s).

Why is this? For the record I do switch it on last, but that's just pure chance on my part.

 

[maddog_007]

So, just settling down and turning on the HiFi for the evening. I now realise that my switch on process is so convoluted that I’ll have to leave instructions in my will !

First plug in the AC regenerator (the fans on idle are noisy, so keep unplugged). Then take the lid off the TT and stow half way across the room (away from sound reflections). This works as the regenerator takes 10 seconds to get going. Reach way under the rack to feel for the switch for the TT power supply. Next flick the switch on the Vida PS, then the valve pre pausing for a few seconds to hear the soft start gradually let the transformer hum emerge.

Then, if I’ve not played the system for a few days, I’ll delve behind the speakers to make sure the Velcro holding the external crossovers has not failed again…press firmly back in place.

Now to the John Wood KT88. I still find it an intimidating, frankly, scary thing. A check of the connection behind, no potential shorts?, then flick the power and stand back, it’s a bit like proding a dragon to wake it up.

……Wait 10 mins while the KT88’s warm through….

Still need to select an an LP, clamp it down, brush the stylus, sweep clean the record, cue the tonearm, lower the stylus….

….Set the pre volume

….Un-mute the VIDA

and if you are lucky, sound emerges…

You are all as bad, aren’t you?

My system is always on 'standby',just in case Vlad the Impaler declares War on Eastwood!
.

 

[maddog_007]

My system is always on 'standby',just in case Vlad the Impaler declares War on Eastwood!
.

BEOGRAM?...so seventies!...always loved the B & O look...parallel tracing i take it?.

 

[Nothingface]

@lostwin Which regenerator are you using? Get a completely silent Puritan PSM156 which can be left plugged in.

 

[Strider]

Why is this? For the record I do switch it on last, but that's just pure chance on my part.

If the source does not use half decent muting relays or has a transient spike when switching on the line in/desk/amplifier/monitors/speakers could be damaged.
Just something I was taught and still adhere to.

 

[lostwin]

@lostwin Which regenerator are you using? Get a completely silent Puritan PSM156 which can be left plugged in.

One of the older Power Inspired units. Having checked the manual, it seems there is an adjustment to reduce the fan speed that I will try.

What the manual didn’t say - and what I was checking for - is whether as regenerator like this removes any incoming DC on the mains, I assume it would but still not sure.

Edit: much quieter (virtually silent) now that I have reduced fan speed.

 

[TheFlash]

Pre-amp first (well, integrated acting as pre) then active speakers on. Then source of choice. NAS, Node 2i, Mutec left on standby 24/7 so good to go.

 

[ziggy]

Switch on the Sbooster attached to streamer, everything else is on stand by. Wait a short while for streamer to boot up. Select BubbleUp app on my phone. Go to Qobuz or My Cloud, select artist, album and play.

 

[Tony_J]

On my two active systems the miniDSP units act as preamps and are always on, but on the 3-way system there is a secondary 2-way analogue crossover that absolutely must be switched on before the amps (and switched off after them) to avoid nasty thumps. The R-Pi based streamers are also always on.

 

[audio_PHIL_e]

1. Turn everything on
2. Tickle the stylus with a cleaning brush until scratches come from the speakers
3. Start turntable, put record on
4. Sit down and enjoy