Do I need to switch off my power amp?

[pinifinina]

Hi everyone,
I have a question regarding connect/disconnect cables on a power amplifier. The question is without speakers connected to the power amp, is it ok to plug/unplug RCA cable on a power amp while the power amp and the prep-amp are still power on? I know you shouldn't do that if you have speaker connected, because you will hear a loud "bang" from the speaker when plug/unplug the RCA signal cable, hence can damage the speaker. But if no speakers are connected to the power amp, does that mean it won't harm the power amp when plug/unplug RCA cable while the amp is on because there is no load (speaker)?

The second question is the same as the first question, but this time is if the pre amp is feeding music/signal to the power amp while plug/unplug RCA cable, whereas the first question, the pre amp is on, but not feeding any music/signal to the power amp. Not sure if scenario 1 and 2 makes a difference in terms of harming the power amp. Thanks heaps everyone!

 

[Replicant 7]

Personally I would turn them off to unplug anything. Stranger things have been known to happen when plugging cables into source and or interconnect cables to amps or preamps.

 

[highfigh]

Read the manual- they almost always mention shutting the equipment off when making or changing connections. If they don't mention it, it's because they assume people know this.

 

[Leemix]

Always turn completely off before messing with connections.
(Just to hammer it in)

 

[Bruce53]

Why would you want to plug or unplug them with the amp on anyway??

 

[pinifinina]

@Bruce53 the amp has 5 channels, I am planning to do some test on different RCA and XLR cables...hence I will be swapping cables a lot, so was thinking if I can get away with let the amp stays on and not have to power of and on repeatedly...

 

[Bruce53]

IC, matter of convenience.

 

[lovinthehd]

@Bruce53 the amp has 5 channels, I am planning to do some test on different RCA and XLR cables...hence I will be swapping cables a lot, so was thinking if I can get away with let the amp stays on and not have to power of and on repeatedly...

Why, are you getting extraneous noise with RCA?

 

[pinifinina]

@lovinthehd , I am testing if I can hear difference between different cables, especially RCA vs XLR. Also testing if all my 5 channels are giving the same volume output as well as same noise level, kind of feel some channel is slight noisier than other. Hence the cable switching test. So really want to know if doing this while the amp is on but no speakers connected will damage the amp. Thanks heaps

 

[lovinthehd]

@lovinthehd , I am testing if I can head difference between different cables, especially RCA vs XLR. Also testing if all my 5 channels are giving the same volume output as well as same noise level, kind of feel some channel is slight noisier than other. Hence the cable switching test. So really want to know if doing this while the amp is on but no speakers connected will damage the amp. Thanks heaps

Not the best way to determine differences, if they actually exist. Are you going on the mythical abilities of xlr or you have some measurements to back it up? Seems like a waste of time to me, especially if you leave things powered up let alone a way to accurately compare each.

 

[pinifinina]

Not the best way to determine differences, if they actually exist. Are you going on the mythical abilities of xlr or you have some measurements to back it up? Seems like a waste of time to me, especially if you leave things powered up let alone a way to accurately compare each.

No, I have no measurement at all for the cable comparison, I am just using my ears. If my ears can't tell the differences, it doesn't matter if the measurement says otherwise, I just have to accept I have bad ears and save the money in my pocket for something else that my ear is able to pick up the difference. But another thing is the noise level and output level for each of my amp channel, using an SPF meter for measurement.

 

[pinifinina]

so the final answer is the power amp should be off? Even there are no speakers connected to it?

 

[lovinthehd]

All power should be off when making connections to avoid issues, not just because you're lazy.

 

[TLS Guy]

so the final answer is the power amp should be off? Even there are no speakers connected to it?

"Curiosity Killed the Cat". In your case likely an amp. You sound just the sort of meddlesome guy, who is determined to wreck good equipment. Stop pointless futzing now!

 

[lovinthehd]

so the final answer is the power amp should be off? Even there are no speakers connected to it?

All power should be off when making connections to avoid issues, not just because you're lazy.

There could also be different signal levels involved to make comparisons meaningless, but even small level differences could do that. Have you been reading too many "audiophile" recommendations/reviews?

 

[Leemix]

Nothing wrong with trying for yourself, just do it safely.

 

[highfigh]

No, I have no measurement at all for the cable comparison, I am just using my ears. If my ears can't tell the differences, it doesn't matter if the measurement says otherwise, I just have to accept I have bad ears and save the money in my pocket for something else that my ear is able to pick up the difference. But another thing is the noise level and output level for each of my amp channel, using an SPF meter for measurement.

If you measure ANY difference in SPL between the cables, something is bad. There's absolutely no reason you should hear a difference in the audio level. If you don't hear a difference, it's more likely that there's no difference to be heard unless a cable is bad, rather than bad ears.

 

[pinifinina]

There could also be different signal levels involved to make comparisons meaningless, but even small level differences could do that. Have you been reading too many "audiophile" recommendations/reviews?

Hahaa, yes, you are correct, I have been watching too many audio related video on Youtube, hence raised my curiosity. )

 

[mtrycrafts]

Answer is to stop watching those videos. Besides, your protocol is flaw from the beginning to the end so any perception you would have is unreliable.

Also, it seems you would be unplugging the speakers before swapping cable is adding to the memory delays of what you thought you heard hindering results. Same holds true if music is not exactly the same over and over with each cable.
Just forget the whole process and may want to read historical testing results, no difference in competent cables.