Tube Amp Questions...

BottomFeeder
BottomFeeder Posts: 1,684
edited January 2008 in 2 Channel Audio
Ok, I bought one of those ipod tube amp thingies (love it!) and, as I'm a complete newbie to tubes, have a few questions that I'd appreciate being answered by you tube pro's!

1. Do tubes need to be warmed up before being played? (If so, for how much time?)
2. Do you leave tube amps on all the time, or turn them off after listening?
3. How often do tubes need to be replaced if at all?

Any other advice you can give would be greatly appreciated! I don't even know what questions to ask?

Thanks!!! :D:D:D
"Wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then." Bob Seger
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited January 2008
    BottomFeeder wrote: »
    Ok, I bought one of those ipod tube amp thingies (love it!) and, as I'm a complete newbie to tubes, have a few questions that I'd appreciate being answered by you tube pro's!

    1. Do tubes need to be warmed up before being played? (If so, for how much time?)

    Yes, how long is usually noted in the user manual; my experience is the longer they are on the better they sound.
    BottomFeeder wrote: »
    2. Do you leave tube amps on all the time, or turn them off after listening?

    Depends on the tubes. The tubes in my integrated are 100,000 hour tubes plus I have spares, therefore I pretty much leave it on all the time. All the rest of the tubed gear I turn off when I am done listening for the day.
    BottomFeeder wrote: »
    3. How often do tubes need to be replaced if at all?

    It depends on the tubes. The ones I have in my CD player are 10,000 hours tubes, others are 5,000 hour tubes.

    I'm new to tubes myself and this is what I've learned thus far.
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  • beardog03
    beardog03 Posts: 5,550
    edited January 2008
    what he said !! ^^^

    I leave my tubes in stndby mode all the time , or on...

    The longer they are on, the better they sound..
    Give them at least 15-20 minutes to warm up from dead cold...your manual will probably say 3-5 minutes, but I let them warm up and stablize before I put anything through them

    tube life is pretty much what has been said already...

    If you listen daily, and steadily, just leave em on....that`s what I do

    If your not, it`s fine to turn them off everyday....just make sure you don`t get in a hurry

    let them warm up
    Cary SLP-98L F1 DC Pre Amp (Jag Blue)
    Parasound HCA-3500
    Cary Audio V12 amp (Jag Red)
    Polk Audio Xm Reciever (Autographed by THE MAN Himself) :cool:
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    SVS PC-Ultra Sub
    AQ Bedrock Speaker Cables (Bi-Wired)
    MIT Shotgun S1 I/C`s
    AQ Black Thunder Sub Cables
    PS Audio Plus Power Cords
    Magnum Dynalab ST-2 FM Antenna
    Sanus Cherry wood Speak Stands
    Adona AV45CS3 / 3 Tier Rack (Black /Gold)

    :cool:
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  • BottomFeeder
    BottomFeeder Posts: 1,684
    edited January 2008
    Thanks very much for the advice, boys!

    My manual's almost worthless - it doesn't say anything about warm up time or anything else. I'm totally in the dark here, so any and all advice is greatly appreciated.

    Hope you're feeling better, Joe!
    "Wish I didn't know now what I didn't know then." Bob Seger
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited January 2008
    Thanks Preacher!
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited January 2008
    Great little post on tube etiquette. It was helpful to me, and I assume others.
    Jake
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  • TroyD
    TroyD Posts: 13,077
    edited January 2008
    Many tube preamps cut the output for a few minutes while the tubes warm up.....

    I don't leave my gear on all the time, I flip it on about a half hour before I plan to get my listen on.

    You can tell when a tube degrades...you can hear it when it needs to be replaced. Generally speaking a new tube will last longer than you own the piece.

    BDT
    I plan for the future. - F1Nut
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited January 2008
    30 minute tube warm up here too... sounds best that way.
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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