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Tube equipment use in high altitude?

This might seems like a strange question, but are tubes adversely affected by use in extremely high altitudes? The reason for my question is I will be moving to La Paz, Bolivia for two years which has an altitude of 12,000 ft. I do not currently own any tube equipment, but I was thinking about making the switch from solid-state. I know that because of the pressure differences, light bulbs don't last nearly as long. Do anybody have any personnal experience with this issue or a scientific explaination. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.

labradford
gs5556
1,218 posts
 
Tubes were used in the radios of World War II aircraft at flight levels of 25 thousand feet or more - the same types now sold as NOS. Also, these were the VT or military spec tubes which were built for the altitudes, vibration and temperature extremes of unpressurized flight. I don't see a problem with good 'ol USA NOS tubes or even Russian military. Chinese tubes tubes, though, I wouldn't trust for many other reasons.
labradford OP
1 posts
 
That's a very good point! I had completely forgotten about that aspect of tube history. Thanks.
jfacker
85 posts
 
Like many others, I've used tube equipment here in Santa Fe, New Mexico (7000 ft. elevation) with no problems. You're talking about almost another mile...to test it out, I'd have to haul my amp up to the top of Santa Fe Baldy, but there's no electricity up there (except lightning).

I have heard that amps are effectively less powerful with increasing altitude, or maybe it's that speakers are less efficient. Anybody else care to comment on this? I've had no problems here, although I do admit to fantasizing about living on the coast one day and hearing my system rock out like never before :)
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