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hours on tubes (Read 7866 times)
JD
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hours on tubes
01/16/15 at 15:00:14
 
Curious how many quality hrs. you guys are getting with various tubes types. My 6ca7-t have about 3,500 hrs on them. A pair of my Ediswan 6922 that run my fm tuner have about 4,700 hrs on them and might be losing it a little. I've read that they can go anywhere from 3000 to 10,000 hrs.
I might switch them both out (which will give me a chance to throw in those kt66's) and bring them to a guy I found on craigslist that will test tubes for a small price.

JD
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Lord Soth
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Re: hours on tubes
Reply #1 - 09/14/15 at 12:39:34
 
If you don't have a tube tester, there is another way to gauge the lifespan left.

Just look at the amount of getter flashing left on your tubes.

For output tubes, the flashing tends to turn black and recede with age.
If there is very little flashing left, it is time to change them.
Other indicators of tube change required:

if your bass turns flabby,
If you need to crank up the volume knob more than your usual number of turns

For input tubes, the level of getter flashing left is also something to look out for.
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Lon
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Re: hours on tubes
Reply #2 - 09/14/15 at 13:12:45
 
Interesting. . . I've had voltage regulator tubes giving me more than two years of service, may be a case by case version. I have one "majic" pair, Arcturus OB3s, that are just so perfect for my Torii Mk III that I hope they last forever. They've been at it a while, approaching two years I think, and seem to have lots of life yet. .. I hope they last forever, their sound is just right.
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HR-1,ZTPRE,ZBIT,ZROCK2,SEWE300B,CSP3-25mod,Taboo MkIV;Rega RP3 all GrooveTracer mods;PSAudio:PST+DSD,P15,NPC,PowerBases,AC-12 pwr cbls,Reference spkrcbls;Mapleshade SamsonV3;VooDoo:Cremona+Amati interconnects, IsoPods; headphones:Sennheiser HD800S,ZMF Ori,Oppo PM1
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JD
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Re: hours on tubes
Reply #3 - 10/25/15 at 13:42:02
 
I've realized that even if I think a tube may be shot, I replace yet keep the tube in my "not sure how much juice is left" tube drawer.  This drawer seems to be growing and my "guaranteed new or nos drawer" gets smaller.  Some times it isn't the tube at all but my mindset when listening. I have a hard time changing a single tube, almost like having a single beer.

Just threw in a nos quad of rft el34's, forget who mentioned them but thanks I am really enjoying them (12 hrs in).  I keep on coming back to the 6ca7/el34 family.  I feel that they add an air between the notes that I really enjoy although they can distort when volume when pushed. It is difficult to find but boy do I enjoy that sweet spot. The kt66 have a solid punch, consistent character that I enjoy but tire of unless I'm listening to rock and roll for a while which is rare.

jd
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mark58
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Re: hours on tubes
Reply #4 - 10/25/15 at 14:23:15
 
It might have been me JD.  I'm a big advocate of the RFT EL-34s and recently suggested them to Greg12. My Torii MK IV came with the Tung Sol KT-66's but when I popped in a used pair of the RFT EL-34s...I was won over.  For a short time I used some Photon 1960's output tubes made in Russia that were rather nice with a less prominent highend.  But after a speaker cable change the RFTs were back in where they have stayed.  Sometime I really do need to give the KT-66s a fair trial...they weren't in long and still haven't been broken in.  JD...Enjoy.  Mark.

https://www.decware.com/cgi-bin/yabb22/YaBB.pl?num=1444350864/8#8
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"The man that hath no music in himself, nor is not moved with the concord of sweet sounds, is fit for treasons, deceptions, and spoils;
The motions of his spirit are dull as night and his affections dark as Hell. Let no such man be trusted." William Shakespeare
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JD
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Re: hours on tubes
Reply #5 - 10/25/15 at 16:32:20
 
Thanks Mark,

I am enjoying them.

JD
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