Can the plate standby switch damage

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Hello all,
I'm sorta new here. Been reading the threads every now and then but this is my first post.
Just finished my EL34 SE build, which is based on the circuit on the Angela's site, except I don't agree with the way they bias the EL34 there, its way too cold. So I biased at about 44 mA, 364V B+ and plan to get it to around 58 mA at some point, deep class A or whatever its called.
I'm driving a pair of Klipsch Synergy B2's speakers and it sounds rather nice, to my humble opinion anyway.
Been listening to various EL34s (Svetlanas, JJs and NOS Phillips) in the output stage and each one has its own strong points and shortcomings, but my favorite so far has been the JJ's.
Anyway, I didn't want to use a hard to find (and expensive!) GZ37 rectifier so I plugged in a commonly available 5U4G from Electro-Harmonix.
Which called for including a plate standby switch, because the directly-heated 5U4 warms up in 2-3 seconds and thats not enough delay for the EL34 filament to warm up.
But when I use the standby switch after about 20 secs or so there is a rather loud pop in the speakers. That 100 uf cathode bypass cap charging throught the EL34 and the primary of the transformer, thats what it must be.
I am kinda afraid it may cause damage to my speakers. So I'm not using the standby feature now, probably killing my EL34s with the plate stripping on startup (not as bad as a solid state rectifier, but still). If anything, a pair of Svetlana EL34s would be easier to replace than the Klipsches.
My questions are:
a) Is my concern legitimate?
b) if it is, what would be a relatively painless way to "ease" the startup? A friend of mine has suggested tying a resistor of some considerable value across the standby switch so that the tubes don't start at 0V when the switch is flipped.
Any suggestions?

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Topic - Can the plate standby switch damage - Alex 19:24:02 02/25/05 (8)

5AR4 GZ34 - Jimmy 05:27:36 02/26/05 (3)

Re: 5AR4 GZ34 - Alex 09:57:19 02/26/05 (2)

Re: 5AR4 GZ34 - Jimmy 10:44:59 02/26/05 (1)

Re: BTW... - Jimmy 10:47:06 02/26/05 (0)

Use SS diodes in series with a slow-warmup damper diode - SomeJoe 20:20:58 02/25/05 (3)

Re: Use SS diodes in series with a slow-warmup damper diode - Ray Moth 19:31:54 02/28/05 (0)

...And forgot to mention, switching the damper heater off acts as B+ standby as well - SomeJoe 20:24:32 02/25/05 (1)

Last thing 8O) don't use more than 40 uF as first cap in C filter with those(nt) - SomeJoe 21:57:13 02/25/05 (0)

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