KT120 longevity


Has anyone replaced a set of KT120s yet? Just wondering how long these should last as I've been running 'em hard and often for a year and a half and they're still moving electrons properly.
wolf_garcia
FWIW, I drive my ARC VS-115 with KT-120s. ARC still recommends replacement at 2000 hours. Do they have a longer life? Dunno. Maybe yes if you drive the tubes with quality electrons. I'd call the factory and ask the techies.
Tube amplifier manufacturers typically specify 2000 hours as the useful lifetime of these power tubes. It doesn't mean they suddenly drop dead after that, but performance degrades with more time.
Thanks for nothing my fellow tubeheads. I'm aware of Tube Death Theory but still wonder how long this particular tube type can continue before becoming land fill. Mine are still seemingly in the 4,750 hour break-in period. They're boring me with their longevity...they have lost nothing so I can't justify replacing them with new KT120 Cryoed Super Platinum Matched Quad ARC Factory Mermaid Drool Glass Polish Lubed Gold Pin Blessed by a Pope Hand Rolled Asteroid Mica Spacered Vintage Vacuum Sucked versions...thus robbing me, that's right, ME, of the simple guilty pleasure of tube rolling. Come on KT120s! Die bastards!...DIE!
Wolf, given your vast guitar amplification etc experiences, you should have a decent idea concerning tube life. Are you referring to the particular application of your Jolida amplifier? Or are you just bored and being indecent?
I'm all for that, btw
I've been using an octet of KT-120s for about the same length of time in a pair of Rogue M-180s. I use the amps for much of the day nearly every day. No issues so far. I previously blew 3 KT-90s (along with their fuses) in the same amps. This reminds me that I should probably order some backups, though.