I have noticed on a number of occasions that my system sounds "warmer", some more mellow after it's been running for awhile.

In Jim Smith's book, "Get Better Sound", on page 139, Tip #119, "When to Power Up", he states "your electronics will always sound better after they're warmed up. It may be a kind of thermal equilibrium. it may be the tubes or transistors reaching an optimal electrical bias... The sound will be warmer (literally), more relaxed, and more focused."

I don't don't notice it on all music genres, but especially when playing music with lots of mid and treble content. I now try to turn on the system in advance of any critical listening.

Anyone else noticing this, doing anything different re warming up their systems?

Happy listening!

Rick

YES, YES and Heck YES Bro Rick!!!!!!!
OF COURSE!!!!!!
The Moderator Dude will disagree with me, but I am not just talking tubes here, which, of course need to be turned on and warmed up in advance of critical listening. I am saying that your DIGITAL gear, your Oppo or CD/DVD player and any Class D amps should never be turned off unless you are not gonna listen for a long time, or go on vacation.
I KNOW, NObody believes this, but I read it once and followed it (I think it was Bel Canto, who turned me on to this idea, can't remember now) and love the results.
I can't afford to leave my eq on all the time, we have tooooo many brown outs, electrical problems over here. So I do power up early and often, and pay the electric company for my guilty pleasures.
You are sooooo right on in your listening my friend!!!!
Keep these great posts coming!!!!
God Bless,
Wayne

No disagreement here. Rick is now a member of the "I can hear it" club.

I have found solid state gear to be just as sensitive to warm up as tube gear. When I evaluate anything seriously I always give my system at least 30 minutes of good-levels playing time before any real listening. If using analog, even longer, a couple LPs at least.

Without meaning to be a fly-in-the-ointment here, and simply looking to contribute to the discussion for the sake of a different perspective, I’ll add that I have never believed that warming up electronics alters their sound. The caveat of course is that the electronics are operating within their normal temperature ranges as specified by the manufacturer. I attribute the reason that many listeners do claim their system sounds better (or different) after electronics (SS and tube) warm up to be the result of change in auditory perception, once the ear itself has been exposed to the sound for a given period of time. In other words, the antithesis of listener fatigue.

Hey, GDHAL

A healthy dose of skepticism is a good thing in the subjective world of "audiophile listening". What are real differences, what are adaptations, what are things we want to hear to justify what we've done... on and on. I do feel the ears and the amazingly complex brain and synapses that process what we hear are more than just a tad more discerning, if less "analytical", than instruments to measure SQ. Yes, testing new set-ups or gear or speakers is subjective. I DO know that I could hear the difference, T2's vs my old Bose 901's, T1's vs T2's, Supercenter XXL vs XL, HTR 7000 vs Invisa 525, Anti-Cable Reference 3 power cords vs stock..... SOMETHING in my brain said, "I hadn't heard THAT before", or "it's more natural", or "the bass is cleaner". It had to be something I was familiar with already.

Regarding the narrower subject of system warm-up, whatever works for whoever uses their system! Audioquest recommends keeping their Dragonfly Red amp/DAC ON as much as possible to maximize sound quality. I've seen various recommendations by amp manufacturers to run the amp for at least 30 minutes before testing. Who knows. It's subjective, yes. What counts is what pleases our ears.

All I can say is that I enjoy music more after at least 30 minutes of system warm-up. For anyone who likes their sound just as much "out of the gate", that's good, too. So many great systems represented on this forum, each unique, so many listening preferences. WHATEVER WORKS FOR EACH OF US!!!

Happy listening!

Rick

Hey Bro Rick, what a great, kind, diplomatic way to say GDHAL you are wrong!!!!
ha ha
I agree, God Bless,
Wayne