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10/21/25 at 12:25:00 



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Tube Life zrock2 (Read 217 times)
tharnell
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Tube Life zrock2
10/14/25 at 18:14:53
 
Hello All

 I have a question about tube life. I just bought a zrock2 with the original tube is in it unit and it was made in 2017. I know the owner did some tube rolling so it may not have been in the zrock2 the entire time. So, my question is if the tube has a life of let's say 5000 hours and the zrock2 is on all the time 24/7 is that the time counted on the tube or only when you are playing music? Sorry newbie here so please let me know. And BTW the zrock2 is AMAZING!!!!! I feel like I have all new CDs to listen to.
Thanks
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mrchipster
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Re: Tube Life zrock2
Reply #1 - 10/14/25 at 20:18:27
 
Hey there tharnell, welcome!

I have a Zrock2 as well and my understanding is that the Zrock runs the tube at a lower voltage which increases tube life and allows it to stay on 24/7 with ease.
For amps/pre's and such, you are correct, if you keep track of hours, you can add them up and have a good ballpark as to when the tube is getting tired based on the original tube specs. However, tubes can fail at any time, new or old so beware.

My advice would be since you really should have a backup tube for the Zrock (and any other tube gear really), get another one regardless. If it's truly from 2017 then it probably could use to get refreshed. If it's newer, put your brand new one in and see if it makes a difference. If not, put it back in the box and you'll have a spare for down the road. You may even want to get a couple of different brands and see if one or the other has more synergy with your system if you're so inclined.

Good luck with whatever you choose.
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Lon
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Re: Tube Life zrock2
Reply #2 - 10/14/25 at 23:10:40
 
I agree with Mr. Chipster 100 percent.

In my system the tube that is in the ZROCK3 influences the whole system, and in particular is very sympatico with the input tube on my SEWE300B. Over the last years I have played around a lot with 12AU7 types in my ZROCK2s and ZROCK3 and there is ONE tube that has a particular magic and I have had it for years and it still has lots of life--the ZROCKs don't stress tubes out.
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reginaldgoshim
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Re: Tube Life zrock2
Reply #3 - 10/18/25 at 02:33:24
 
Tube life counts when the unit is powered on, not just when music is playing. If it’s been on 24/7, hours have been accumulating.
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Dominick
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Re: Tube Life zrock2
Reply #4 - Today at 00:59:43
 
Quote:
Posted by: Lon      Posted on: 10/14/25 at 18:10:40.


Over the last years I have played around a lot with 12AU7 types in my ZROCK2s and ZROCK3 and there is ONE tube that has a particular magic and I have had it for years and it still has lots of life--the ZROCKs don't stress tubes out.


Lon….so which ONE tube has been your go to lately?  Curious minds want to know. 😀

You had turned me on to the Amperex Holland Pinched Waist 7062 and I have really enjoyed them lately.  I had stockpiled like 5 of them to keep me set for the upcoming years.  

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Lon
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"Love without
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Re: Tube Life zrock2
Reply #5 - Today at 03:13:40
 
Yes, those 7062 are really great tubes.

For the ZROCK3 (and previously in one of the ZROCK2s) a Holland made 12AU7 labeled "Sun"has been my go to. I loved it so much I sought out 5 others, identical, but that first one just has a certain character I seem to think of as magical, it's not shared by the others.
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