Hey Zygi,
Here's the link for the manual:
https://www.decware.com/newsite/Minitoriimanual.pdfI know now if I turn the amp OFF by starting from the back, horizontally (i.e., both channels in the outermost row, before going to the next row of switches going forward), I don't hear a thing. This is how I'm doing it since I heard the thump. I use this same sequence to turn it on. In both cases I make sure the volume pods are at the cero position.
In my unit, each channel's volume is not a switch, just volume pods. You can isolate use of one channel by just not turning on the switches (3) on either side.
My question now is if it is ok to do it this way or to use the isolation transformer power switch and turn everything ON or OFF that way (all 6 switches would stay always in the ON position, of course).
This may sound trivial to most of you, and I apologize, but I want to make sure I don't screw up something inadvertently, as I know nothing about this amp. In my earlier tube system (back in the day), each monoblock (225 Deluxe VTL) had a power switch controlling all tubes in that block. I would turn the preamp on first and off last, as you said. The only difference is my pre was SS at the time (ARC LS-3).
I know a pair of those switches are toggle switches to bypass the input tube voltage regulation stage. I suppose another pair (closer to the transformers) would kill the transformers. I'm not sure what the 3rd pair of switches (at the very front) do, exactly.
Thanks for your inputs.