Interesting question

Posted by E-Stat (A) on April 15, 2015 at 16:12:27

In Reply to: Do tubes get "tired"? posted by airtime on April 14, 2015 at 06:28:00:

Regarding small signal tubes...

I'm of two minds. Manufacturers like Audio Research tell you that tubes like the 6922 are good for only about 5000 hours. Turn off the component when not in use. With a new preamp in the main system, I adhere to their recommendation.

Just for grins, I've experimented with doing the opposite. For years, I ran a Manley tube DAC that used 12AU7s 24x7 and couldn't tell any difference even when I changed them once a year just because after nearly 9000 hours. I replaced that unit with an ARC SP9 MKIII and similarly have left it on 24x7 since last summer using 7308 tubes. I'm gonna run them until I can tell a difference or they die! I have four spare 7308s to use afterwards, but I'm finding that continuous use is not necessarily such a bad thing - again with small signal tubes.

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Follow Ups Full Thread

Topic - Do tubes get "tired"? - airtime 06:28:00 04/14/15 (17)

Eli to vet this? Small signal tubes tend to last a long time, power tubes and rectifiers less. - Timbo in Oz 16:25:36 04/18/15 (2)

RE: Eli to vet this? Small signal tubes tend to last a long time, power tubes and rectifiers less. - unclestu 17:47:50 04/18/15 (1)

Hi Stu, - Timbo in Oz 18:54:00 04/18/15 (0)

Apparently the answer is YES. Some tubes do get tired - airtime 10:09:30 04/17/15 (0)

Interesting question - E-Stat 16:12:27 04/15/15 (5)

RE: Interesting question - Sondek 06:33:58 04/16/15 (3)

RE: Interesting question - E-Stat 06:42:26 04/16/15 (2)

RE: Interesting question - Sondek 11:27:28 04/16/15 (1)

RE: Interesting question - E-Stat 13:54:38 04/16/15 (0)

RE: Interesting question - airtime 16:18:45 04/15/15 (0)

RE: Do tubes get "tired"? - krankkall 12:30:36 04/14/15 (0)

yes, they do and they fade away gracefully. - bouncy ball 09:14:32 04/14/15 (0)

They tire out - FenderLover 07:27:50 04/14/15 (0)

RE: Do tubes get "tired"? - vinnie2 07:15:38 04/14/15 (0)

RE: Do tubes get "tired"? - rick_m 07:09:26 04/14/15 (2)

RE: Do tubes get "tired"? - vinnie2 10:10:48 04/14/15 (1)

RE: Do tubes get "tired"? - Mechans 13:14:44 04/22/15 (0)

Follow Ups

Interesting question - E-Stat 16:12:27 04/15/15 (5)

RE: Interesting question - Sondek 06:33:58 04/16/15 (3)

RE: Interesting question - E-Stat 06:42:26 04/16/15 (2)

RE: Interesting question - Sondek 11:27:28 04/16/15 (1)

RE: Interesting question - E-Stat 13:54:38 04/16/15 (0)

RE: Interesting question - airtime 16:18:45 04/15/15 (0)

Interesting question

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