2. amps-preamps
  3. 129198-330

Do blown preamp tubes cause other issues?

As a relatively tube newbie I'd like to know if one of the preamp tubes blew while listening at loud levels using a solid state amp would there be the potential to damage the unit itself plus the amplifier and thus the speakers? I have ARC Ref 5 or 6 in mind. I don't ever seem to hear this discussed. Thanks for any info provided.

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cleeds
6,051 posts
 
I've never had any problem with damage after losing a tube in an ARC preamplifier, and I've used ARC preamps for decades. I'm currently using a Ref 5SE.
4425 OP
861 posts
 
very glad to hear.
schubert
7,386 posts
 
If you have a solid-state amp with tube pre it can take out your speakers .
wolf_garcia
6,740 posts
 
I'm not sure how a tube preamp hooked to a SS amp can take out your speakers, but I guess anything is possible…it would seem that the preamp just stops working when a tube blows, and isn't likely to dump anything beyond (maybe) some noise into the amp which I suppose could stress the speakers…still…hmm...
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