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Tube Life Question: 12AX7 Drivers

Hello.

OK, here's a question for some of those out there who have lived with 12AX7 drivers. How long have they lasted in your experience? I used to have an amp that used them, and after 6 years, they still seemed fine. Now that I again own an amp that uses these tubes in this application, I'm wondering what the actual life expectancy is - 5 years, 10 years, 25 years???

Thank you in advance,
Joe
trelja
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ncarv
983 posts
 
Usual answer is 10,000 hours.
mapleleafs3
190 posts
 
Hi Joe, 10,000 hours is the number i have heard.
goldorak's avatar
goldorak
89 posts
 
I own a vintage Realistic (yes RAT SCHACK) Stereoline/40 tube integrated from the fifties and the 12AX7 drivers are original Realistic tubes. They still test «good» in my Hickok tube tester. How's that for longevity.
fatparrot
1,314 posts
 
Trelja, 10,000 hours for NOS tubes. I have heard that family of Chinese 12AX7's, 12AU7's, and 12AT7's have a considerably shorter lifespan. The good news is that they are cheap, and have low noise, which makes them a good candidate in the phono section
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