TUBE BIAS, socket to me!


BIAS: (I'm starting from zero understanding) 

I have never measured/adjusted bias in the 3 tube amps, 3 tube receivers, and 2 tube preamps I have acquired over 47 years. I just switched my current Cayin from 6550's to KT88's. Adjust bias? Adjusters inside, scary electrocution warnings. I could pay someone else to do it, i.e. Steve at VAS 1 hr away in NJ, soooo, 

What really counts? (personally I don't care about either heat or life, but would like to understand)

Heat?
Life?
Output stays Matched when adjusted?
Acoustic Performance?
_________?

Over the years, fronts off, bottoms off, I hose em down with contact cleaner/lubricant, compressed air, all controls and switchers, any adjusters, swish full spin back and forth. Kill any spiders, look for, replace the rare burnt resistor. 
Then leave any adjusters (whatever they are) in the middle position, button it back up.

Two tube testers, my big hickock always agrees with small portable one, test strength, shorts, matched strength old and newly purchased. Large collection of NOS, used. Often used test essentially same strength as new ones.

When they go, it's usually a short.
elliottbnewcombjr
The amplifier itself is the best tube-tester.  If a tube fails to bias correctly in situ in the amplifier, it should be replaced.
Unless you want to spend thousands of bucks on a separate tube tester that can actually test power tubes at their typical voltage and current, you don't need a tube tester at all.  This was mentioned earlier.  The vintage tube testers, many of which are collected by strange people who collect tube testers, were generally NOT able to test power tubes at meaningful levels of voltage and current.  Of those vintage testers, Hickok is the brand worth having, because Hickok testers along with only a few other brands can test transconductance.  Testers ARE nice to have around for small signal tubes, used in the front end of amplifiers and in preamplifiers/phono stages. But even that is a bit frivolous.  I do own a Hickok Model 533A, one of the older models probably from the post-WW2 era. I do use it to check transconductance (Gm), which is a sign of the life stage of a tube.  If Gm is below the accepted range for that tube, you can ditch it with a clear conscience. I paid $75 for the 533A.  The grandson of the 533 is the 539, one of the most sought after.  A fully reconditioned 539 in top operating condition will cost you more than $1000, easy.  539s come a little closer to being able to test power tubes properly but not really close enough.  I would bet almost no one here besides me owns any tube tester.  I bought it for my own interest in DIY.
@lewn,

The statement below was from a positive feedback article about the MX110Z that Elliot was gracious enough to provide us.

"Like me, after living with the MX110Z for a while, you may wonder why all modern preamplifiers don’t include FM tuners and equalization controls—they’re great fun! Also, tell me, is there anything even remotely comparable to the vacuum tubed McIntosh MX110Z currently available today at any price? No, which is a pity."
http://www.positive-feedback.com/Issue77/vintage_mcintosh_experience.htm

@ elliottbnewcombjr,

Talk about a labor of love and patience! You kept the same preamp and kept it working after all these years. The money you've saved and knowledge gained on that unit, from not having that dreaded disease of upgraditis...Bloody brilliant if you ask me. 

As an Architect, whose path went the way commercial interior designer. I'd love to hear some of your stories on acoustics where the materials used were passive and maybe active in a room/hall you designed with the customers acoustic wants in mind. 

tyray

I just bought that used McIntosh mx110z tube tuner/preamp in June 2019, a purchase of love but not a long held piece. I sold my McIntosh SS Preamp C28 and McIntosh SS2250 to switch back to tubes.

I have avoided upgrades fairly well, primarily because I have been lucky to both inherit great stuff and been given some great stuff. I have given a lot of stuff to others as well. Met Bill here last year, we swapped my Fisher 800C receiver for his Mitsubishi Vertical TT, LT-5V which I revived and plays in my office system now.

I designed Corporate Offices, New Headquarters, Relocations, Renovations, for 47 years: NYC, Phila, Wash DC, Chicago, San Fran, Toronto, hired my own consultants, did everything soup to nuts.