Plato,
The truth is that the power tubes in an Atmaspere amp are only about $7 each. You wouldn't have to change them for 2-3,000 hours. If you listened 3hrs a day, 6 days a week, it would take about 1,000 days before they burned out. I love my system but I don't think I get to listen to just my big rig that often. Never the less for the 60 watt Stereo amp thats $50-60 every 3 years. Double that amount for the 140wpc and so on. I don't know of anyone in this hobby who doesn't waste that much on a few bad albums, a piece of gear they regret buying, useless tweaks,etc.
If you realize that it is part and parcel of owning this gear you won't mind. My own tube amps use 6CA7s. They are used in amps that use EL34s. If you could even find NOS power tubes, I know some on this board do, you can spend a fortune. Most of us mere mortals use modern production. They burn out at about the same rate , truthfully the as7 might go a bit sooner. These tubes cost at least double For instance, mine have 8 tubes at about $80 for a well selected matched quad. Much more, but I still wouldn't trade them in for SS.
Either you love or you don't, but please don't use cost of keeping them an excuse for not liking them.I thinkifor most it's a case of tubophobia. Maybe it is because the majority still relate tubes to a blurry thick syrupy sound of the early stereo days. This is simply not the case in modern amps especially the OTLs. Cost a huge concern in this hobby of high priced everything? If your willing to spin vinyl you spend more on record wash.
