Been using vintage gear since long before it became popular. Installed a streamer, BlueSound Node 2i, a few years back. Use it for most of my listening. I’ve always worried about wear on the power switches, especially the Pioneer stuff with rotary switches. Saw a video from Skylabs Audio about using a ‘smart’ plug to power on stuff. Already have an Echo downstairs for the lights. Added a plug to the receiver, currently a Pioneer SX-3700. Since I never listen to the radio, the only time I need to touch my system is to switch to TT or pick between speakers.
I found this option was, un, not an option for me about 5 years ago when I picked up a little Sherwood S7100 (for free!). It’s in excellent condition and is a nice unit for my office. It sounds surprisingly good and has a great mid-century look to it…but the on/off switch is part of the volume knob: twist right, there’s a springy “click” and it’s on.
I read that these switches are prone to break, and when they do you’re hosed: there’s no replacement knob assembly available. I see these for $450 these days, but back then it wasn’t very valuable, so getting a service tech to bypass wasn’t economically prudent.
Enter the original Kasa mini smartplug. I leave the receiver on, and tell Google to “turn on the office stereo” when I want to listen. These plugs were ridiculously expensive back then, but they last - I am still using the original one I got then and have 5-6 more around the house.
The apps for most streamers also have a volume control. My bedroom setup has a remote. I use it for off/on only. A WiiM mini feeds it tunes. Just leave your receiver on and set the volume. As they used to say in radio, just set your station here and rip the knob off.
I connect my Echos to powered studio mini monitors via the headphone jack and plug the monitors, which run pretty hot, into smart plugs. I use my Echos for streaming podcasts and the local NPR station, the monitors remain off most of the time. When I want to listen I tell the Echo to turn the radio on.
Found out the new echo’s don’t have line out.
I’m not surprised.
I use a smartplug on my Technics amp as well. Home Assistant turns on the amp as soon as HiFiBerry starts playing music through Spotify connect. When it is ilde for at least 10 min it gets turned off again.
Great option for an older stereo, and it’s nice that we can add this and Bluetooth so easily. My bedroom Sansui is controlled by the TV via a smart power strip with the TV plugged into the control outlet. Roku remote turns the TV on, easy peasy.