It depends

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In Reply to: Tube life same at idle vs with signal? posted by Jonesy on March 31, 2016 at 19:23:04:

In Mac tube amp,the output tubes draw very little at idle and that's why they typically last so long so in the that case,the 6550 output tubes will last a LONNGG Time when signal isn't applied..
The driver and voltage amp stages operate in class A and draw the same amount of current so tube wear for those isn't really affected that much.
Amps like the Berning EA230 which operate in class B in the output stage are also easy on the output tubes at idle with no signal.
"For every complex problem there is an answer that is clear, simple, and wrong" H. L. Mencken

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Topic - Tube life same at idle vs with signal? - Jonesy 19:23:04 03/31/16 (3)

If AB1 Power Stage... - Triode_Kingdom 05:35:04 04/01/16 (0)

Also, the heater doesn't care about signal and will burn out like a lightbulb - Chip647 05:07:41 04/01/16 (0)

It depends - Michael Samra 21:09:13 03/31/16 (0)

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It depends - Michael Samra 21:09:13 03/31/16 (0)

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