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https://www.decware.com/cgi-bin/yabb22/YaBB.pl AUDIO FORUMS >> General Discussion and Support >> Help Request: Getting Started w/ Tube Amp Primer? https://www.decware.com/cgi-bin/yabb22/YaBB.pl?num=1581089403 Message started by BillW on 02/07/20 at 15:30:03 |
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Title: Help Request: Getting Started w/ Tube Amp Primer? Post by BillW on 02/07/20 at 15:30:03 Full disclosure, I have only searched a little on the site. I have a new amp on order and I’m getting closer and closer on the waiting list! Is there is good “getting started using tube amplifiers” primer around that will help me get up to speed on the do’s and don’ts So I don’t blow anything apart, fry things or myself or loved ones. :o |
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Title: Re: Help Request: Getting Started w/ Tube Amp Primer? Post by Lonely Raven on 02/07/20 at 15:58:51 There probably is, but I'll give you some off the top of my head. #1 always make sure speakers are connected. Tubes need to be connected to something. Amp and/or tube damage could result in trying to drive an open circuit. #2 Tubes are analog, give them time to warm up, time to cool off, and they get HOT. Handle with care, try not to swap them when hot (they break easier when hot), don't forget the amp on for days on end, etc. I enjoy the ritual of coming home from work, powering the amp on, going to change out of my work clothes, and it's warmed up by the time I'm in my comfy clothes. And the sound is even better after warming up even more with actual music! #3 Have a spare set of tubes; basically for diagnostic purposes. If you notice something not right, a crackle in one speaker, volume difference left to right, no sound etc - you can swap in your spare set to help diagnose if it's a tube issue or something else. It's also nice to help you gauge how tired your tubes are. Tubes age slowly, so much so you probably won't notice when they are "getting tired" and need replacing; so after 6 months, pop in your spare set and see if the sound is "holy crap" different or marginally different, or no difference at all. When you get that "holy crap this is better" then you know for sure it's time to replace tubes...don't wait for them to to die like an old lightbulb (which could damage your amp). #4 Again, tubes are analog, and made by hand in China or Russia (usually). Expect changes, random dead tubes, aging at different rates, sounding different as they age etc. Lastly, just enjoy listening! A lot of Transistor guys will poo poo all of the above because "it's too fiddly", or "not accurate", or "too much distortion" or some such... but we wouldn't be doing all this if it wasn't worth it. The sound is truly amazing, sometimes transcending, so really enjoy the music and don't worry about the fiddly bits too much. Just be safe, buy good tubes, replace them when needed, enjoy the music. |
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Title: Re: Help Request: Getting Started w/ Tube Amp Primer? Post by Tommy Freefall on 02/07/20 at 17:46:39 Don't forget to carefully read the manual - lots of helpful information there. |
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Title: Re: Help Request: Getting Started w/ Tube Amp Primer? Post by ScottNC on 02/07/20 at 23:09:41 Good advice so far, I can only add be patient, my system gets used almost every day and now going towards 2 years still gets better to me. I’m pretty sure most of it is my own ears refining as opposed to equipment breaking, but it is what it is and it’s an amazing transformation. Enjoy, Scott |
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Title: Re: Help Request: Getting Started w/ Tube Amp Primer? Post by Jeff of Arabica on 02/08/20 at 02:53:31 Quote:
LR, I've read this advice in several places on the Internet. Not that I doubt the truth in this, but I wonder if this is more tube folklore than data driven fact. Tubes have historically been used in fighter jets and ballistic missile systems with extreme vibration and G-forces. Hard to believe pulling a tube from an amp while it is hot would lead to vibration-based failure. Maybe it is just military tubes that can endure "hot handling" where consumer tubes are weaker in construction. |
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Title: Re: Help Request: Getting Started w/ Tube Amp Primer? Post by Donnie on 02/08/20 at 03:10:57 The reason that the tubes break easier when hot is because you inevitably drop the tube because it scalds you. It has nothing to do with the physical properties of the tube but more about the amount of pain that you can endure! |
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Title: Re: Help Request: Getting Started w/ Tube Amp Primer? Post by Jeff of Arabica on 02/08/20 at 05:39:40 Now that, makes perfect sense! |
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Title: Re: Help Request: Getting Started w/ Tube Amp Primer? Post by ArtMan on 02/08/20 at 21:15:51 I am guilty of swapping out hot input tubes when tube rolling. RULE: Never use your bare hands when handling hot tubes. Use a cloth or paper towel between the tube and your skin. |
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Title: Re: Help Request: Getting Started w/ Tube Amp Primer? Post by will on 02/09/20 at 01:18:49 Wanting to hear direct comparisons, in my Toriis, Zstage and CSP3, I got in the habit of pulling hot tubes years ago. I cut off the amp, grab them with a nice rag, pull them very carefully, and lay them on a wool rug under my cabinet to cool slowly and more evenly. I can't say if this is recommended or not, but have not noticed obvious issues with this method. |
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Title: Re: Help Request: Getting Started w/ Tube Amp Primer? Post by Lonely Raven on 02/11/20 at 16:05:44 I agree with Donnie on the scalding thing, that's usually my method of retiring tubes...the "hot drop". As for military applications, there is a big difference between a tube mounted in a rubber isolated tube socket in a jet, and you squeezing and/or bumping the hot glass envelope while it's at operating temperature. In a military application nothing is touching/bumping the glass...and if it is, you have bigger problems to worry about. |
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Title: Re: Help Request: Getting Started w/ Tube Amp Primer? Post by Jeff of Arabica on 02/11/20 at 16:18:19 Ok, the glass envelope is the point of fragility for which that advice applies. I was assuming it had something to do with the glowing hot metal of the tube innards. |
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Title: Re: Help Request: Getting Started w/ Tube Amp Primer? Post by Lonely Raven on 02/11/20 at 16:44:02 Nah, the internal structures are spot welded together, and the military grade tubes usually have more mica spacers to keep them from rattling on the inside. Military tubes are often shorter, thicker glass, etc to help harden them. Now compare that to the Chinese tubes of today.... |
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Title: Re: Help Request: Getting Started w/ Tube Amp Primer? Post by maddog07 on 02/13/20 at 21:29:50 I have a pair of heavy white cotton jersey gloves I keep on the rack beside my amps... just for the purpose of "hot swapping". But you still get to wait for the new tubes you swap in, to reach "thermal stability" before they will sound their best. Another tip on the topic of faulty tube detection and "heat" - get yourself an infrared heat thermometer. I had one of a set of four 6CA7's go bad in my Torii back when I was a tube noob. I don't remember what caused me to think to shoot them with the infrared thermometer, curiosity I suppose, but "one" of them was about 1/2 the temperature of the other three - guess what - that was the bad tube. Also, if memory serves, these tubes run in the 240-250 degrees Fahrenheit range in my Torii. So NO... don't grab them with your bare fingers before they cool off. Also... typically small signal tubes, like preamp tubes, 6DJ8's, 12AX7's, etc. don't get nearly as hot as power output tubes. |
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