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Questions about tubes and gear that glows. FAQ

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Tube/Valve Lifespan

Posted by Duster on December 10, 2020 at 16:38:20:
I've only recently become an avid listener to a tube headphone amplifier set-up, some days powered-on for many hours at a time, so I really don't know what to expect in terms of tube lifespan. The notion of a frog placed in a pot brought slowly to a boil, and death by a thousand cuts come to mind when I think of, "How will I know when to replace my tubes when the time comes". Should I buy a replacement set in advance in order to hear if there is a notable improvement now and then, or just hope that audible indicators such as noise, or unusual warm-up time might be signs. Otherwise, I don't like the idea that I'll find myself feeling as though my tube set-up is sounding sub par someday, and realize I had been listening to a tube amplifier that would have brought more enjoyment if I understood the warning signs a bit earlier. TIA