From time to time TNT-Audio readers asks us about the pros and cons of leaving HiFi components permanently "on" or in stand-by mode. Year after year the number of HiFi components that are designed and meant to stay permanently in stand-by mode is increasing. It is not uncommon to find an amplifier with the ON/OFF switch placed in the rear panel! Other components, as soon as the power cord is connected to the mains, enter in stand-by mode and there's no way to switch them off...completely. Among others, Naim amplifiers are said to give their best only if left ON all of the time (not just in stand-by!).

There are many reasons why stand-by might be "good" for sound and circuits' life. Each and any switch-on procedure is actually a shock for circuits, especially caps, power supplies and power stages. Moreover, any circuit gives the best performances when the temperature of its components is uniform and possibly not too low. Many passive components work within their "limits" only into a precise temperature range.
I'm pretty sure everyone has experimented the benefits of a correct "warm-up" of CD players and amplifiers. I know audiophiles who put their system in "warm-up mode" even 24 hours _before_ any critical listening (!!!)
Summarizing, it seems the stand-by mania has some good reason to survive and even prosper. It just sounds "common sense". I've always been against common sense. So, I beg your pardon if I disagree. Strongly.

For sure HiFi components sound better after a decent "warm-up". No doubt about this. And they will probably last longer if left in permanent stand-by state. Anyway, I think we can survive even if we listen to our system which runs at just 70-80% of its full potential for the first 30 minutes or so. After all, it's Music that matters! And I'd better leave "critical listening" to...uhm...HiFi reviewers, right? Average audiophiles can be patient enough to wait for 30 minutes until the system comes alive...in full bloom.
As for "extended components life"...I'm not 100% sure. I've always turned off my HiFi components after listening. Even worse, I switch them on and off continuosly, because of my reviewer's special needs: changing cables, connecting and disconnecting components for comparisons and so on. What a stressful life for any HiFi component, right?
Know what? I've never - I say NEVER - broken a component during these "shocking" and "risky" procedures! Countless on's & off's and never a fault, a damage. Perhaps I've just been lucky, perhaps switching on and off HiFi components isn't all that dangerous.
That said, you still might wonder why you shouldn't leave components ON (or in stand-by) all the time. Ever heard of power saving? Yes, you've caught that right: POWER SAVING!!!
Several scientific papers on power consumption in households prove beyond any reasonable doubt that many electronic components have a power consumption, when left in stand-by mode, of 10 watts average (each!)!!! Leave 10 of them in permanent stand-by (24 hours a day) and you'll have the equivalent of a 100 watts lamp turned on all day and night!
Below you can find a table that lists stand-by power consumption averages for common electronic components, including HiFi gear. Data are listed in different columns depending on the authors of the related scientific paper (for a complete list see "References" at the bottom of this page).

Table 1. Standby power consumption (W) of audio, video and communication appliances

(*) average including appliances with 0 standby power consumption
(**) based on Siderius (1997)

For more infos read the paper linked in the References section.

Now imagine what happens if, instead of leaving components in stand-by, you leave them permanently ON. And imagine the scenario if you use some low-efficiency amplification, such as Class A power amps.
Apart from outrageously high (and useless) power consumption there's another reason why you should switch off every electronic component when not in use. Many modern components (VCR's, DVD players, printers, PC's, battery chargers etc.) use switching-mode power supplies. Normally, very cheap switching power supplies. Hence, you can just imagine the amount of "trash" (read: EMI and RFI) these appliances produce near them and how many interferences they inject into the mains. You should be aware this is not good for your HiFi system. Perhaps you've spent hundreds of dollars in super-special mains cables and then you leave cheap switching power supplies destroying the quality of the mains which feeds your precious HiFi system. Think about it. And experiment. Unplug everything you have connected to the mains and then listen to your system again. I'm pretty sure this will result as the most cost-effective upgrade you can perform to your HiFi.

My final advice is to avoid leaving in stand-by mode other electronic components, possibly unplugging these from the mains if switching off isn't enough. This will help you saving on your energy bill and will protect your HiFi system from mains interferences. Moreover, unless you are a reviewer who needs to perform "critical listening" on a 24/7 basis, switch off your HiFi components as well. Then use the money you will save for buying some new LP or CD.
You won't regret a penny.

References

• Nakagami, H., B. Litt, Appliance standards in Japan, Energy and Buildings 26 (1997) 69-79

• Nakagami, H., A. Tanaka, C. Murakoshi, B. Litt, Stand-by Electricity Consumption in Japanese Houses, paper presented at first conference on energy efficient appliances, Florence, November 1997b

• Rath, U., M. Hartmann, A. Präffke, C. Mordziol, Klimaschutz durch MInderung von Leerlaufverlusten bei Elektrogeräten, Umweltbundesamt, Berlin, Forschungsbericht 20408541, UBA-FB 97-071, September 1997

• Siderius, P.J.S., Standby consumption TV/VCR - technical and economical analysis, Van Holsteijn en Kemna, Delft, September 1995

• Siderius, P.J.S., Household Consumption of Electricity in the Netherlands, Van Holsteijn en Kemna, Delft, November 1995

• Siderius, P.J.S, Energy Consumption of Integrated Receiver Decoders, Van Holsteijn en Kemna B.V., Delft, June 1997

• Standby Consumption in Households - State of the art and possibilities for reduction for home electronics - drs. ir. Hans-Paul Siderius. Van Holsteijn en Kemna BV, Delft, The Netherlands

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Oasis "Stand By Me" - Be Here Now (1998)

Made a meal and threw it up on Sunday
I've got a lot of things to learn
Said I would and I believe in one day
Before my heart starts to burn.

So whats the matter with you?
Sing me something new ... Don't you know
The cold and wind and rain don't know
They only seem to come and go, away

Times are hard when things have got no meaning
I've found a key upon the floor
Maybe you and I will not believe in the things we find behind the door

Stand By Me -- Nobody knows the way it's gonna be
Stand By Me -- Nobody knows the way it's gonna be
Stand By Me -- Nobody knows the way it's gonna be

If you're leaving will you take me with you
I'm tired of talking on my phone
But there is one thing I can never give you
My heart will never be your home