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Total cost of ownership - how to reduce it

Audiogon members love their music - but I am not alone, I think, in finding that the requirements in terms of cost and time for keeping the system running at optimal, can become too steep. Can we help each other out?

Today I have spent two hours trying to find a failed tube in my system. Two months ago I had a bad episode with a repair service that did not repair and did not return my stuff. Some weeks ago, I blew a speaker driver, I am still waiting for the replacement. Thinking, I need a tube tester, since my system has a lot of tubes - I got the tester, but it blew tubes, not "dead on arrival" but "over-excited" - and has to be repaired. I am perhaps especially unlucky. But I ask myself, how much is enough? When such experiences accumulate, I can understand people plugging into Mp3, it is simple and it works.

I have thought about my situation and diagnosed two main types of problems - maybe, relevant for other Audiogon members also.

The first is where you buy a thing used and then get it upgraded by the manufacturer. You pay quite a lot for this, and you would expect the whole thing is checked - but it is not. In two cases now, I have experienced that even if the upgrade works fine, the box as a whole is not checked, and develops problems a year or two after the upgrade.

The second case is where you pay for an upgrade that is more like a new build (e g of a speaker) or rebuild (of a cartridge). Now, there is no lagging wear and tear problem, but it turns out that the upgrade parameters were not fully developed, things have to be changed or checked afterwards (speaker drivers dont work optimal, needle not quite in place, etc).

I would be the first to recognize that some of these costs (time, mainly, but money also) should be accepted. I have paid local repair costs without complaining, and have used many hours of my own time. As an advanced user, I accept some extra costs.

It is just that, sometimes it gets too much.

I would like other Audiogon users' thoughts on this dilemma, and especially, what can we do to reduce the total ownership costs.

Your thoughts and experiences welcome.
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onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,236 posts
 
You have what looks like a great sounding system, but anything that is finely tuned will require regular maintenance. You have to determine the balancing point between how finely tuned you want your system and how much maintenance effort you want to expend. That point is different for everybody and can change at different points in your life. I eventually came to the determination that reliability was the most important quality of a component when I started stockpiling "backup" components. Reliable and good sounding components aren't hard to find.

Regarding you specific situation. A good tech is hard to find. Unless your tube tester has been completely rebuilt by a knowledgeable person (not just some random tech), it's probably junk. Plus using and understanding the results of a tube tester has a learning curb. Many times an "upgrade" is a fix for a reliability issue. In a properly designed and spec'd loudspeaker blowing a driver is always the user's fault.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,333 posts
 
" but anything that is finely tuned will require regular maintenance. "

That is true, but not all approaches are created equal in this regard. Some require more periodic tuning to maintain over time. Systems using parts that wear out or deteriorate faster will be the most prone. Its generally a larger part of the overall equation when tubes are involved. But not even all tubes are created equal in this regard. Some gear is easier on tube life than others. Its something to consider for TCO especially if one must have tubes.

Phono rigs are the other common part of a high end system that tend to require more periodic maintenance in order to maintain fine tuned performance.

So you have to be somewhat dedicated to the maintenance and cost aspects with older technologies like tubes and phonos, especially if keeping things well tuned matters to you. An inherent investment in time and money is required. That is an aspect that proponents will tend to gloss over given the chance.

The good news is that if you just want to make an initial investment and spend time listening, there are better ways available via more modern technologies. TCO and reliability is a major driving factor for new technology and the main reason why older ones might no longer cut it.
ebm
9,311 posts
 
Get a great solid state amp i can't deal with tube amps always had problems.I use tube preamp and solid state amp MUCH less problems with great sound.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,333 posts
 
Tube preamp + good matching Class D amp (and speakers) is a very viable lower TCO solution to tube amps and all that goes with that.

A tube output stage on a DAC is a very low TCO option if one must have a tube or two in the mix.

No tubes at all may be best from a TCO perspective.

I use a tube pre-amp with Class D amp in my system and could not be happier. Effortless music at any volume level.

I use a DAC with a single tube output stage in my second system with SS preamp and amp and this is similarly good at most reasonable listening levels.

I have other listening options at well at home with very good sound quality, mostly involving headphones, and no tubes at all.
syntax's avatar
syntax
2,193 posts
 
I would call the Audiophile Hotline
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