It is narrated from Sayyiduna Wa'il bin Hujr (may Allah be pleased with him) that when the Prophet (peace and blessings be upon him) said the takbir in the prayer, he would raise his hands until they were level with his (peace and blessings be upon him) ears.
Hadith Referenceالمعجم الكبير للطبراني / باب الواو / 18283