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Tired of Problems with Tube Equipment

I switched over to tube audio equipment in some form some years back, and have certainly enjoyed music played back through them. I have had amps, preamps, and DACS at different times utilizing tubes. One unfortunate thing that's been common to all the tube equipment I've had are problems. It doesn't seem to matter whether the manufacturer is large or small, built in the USA or overseas, they all have had problems. Capacitors blowing out, bad solder joints, tubes only lasting a short time, loud pops that mysteriously go away on their own, etc. Although I have enjoyed the sound (and that beautiful glow!), I am starting to get tired of this and thinking of going back to solid state.

Have any of you also gone back (or thought about it) to solid state for this reason? What has your experience been with the reliability of tube equipment?
smeyers
vegasears
1,173 posts
 
Yes, I've all those issues over the last 9 years with my tube gear. Their just high maintenance.

Last year I tried to replace my tube power amps with well respected Solid State mono blocks. I spent months with the SS amps but at the end of the day, it was back to the tubes.

Most of the problems I've had with tube equipment can be traced to tube failure. So finally bought a tube tester. Nothing fancy but it test weather a tube is good or bad.
jallen
502 posts
 
I have decided to stay with tubes because tubes can always get fixed. SS, maybe, maybe not. Tubes are far more simple and with P-P wiring, even more easy to repair. Even output transistors wear out. Jallen
velocityofhue
186 posts
 
My first experience w/tubes was a 400 dollar repair bill after three months playing music through it. DOUGH!
rhljazz
1,255 posts
 
A 400 dollar repair bill on an ampifier doesn't tick me off near as bad as the 500 dollar repair I just paid for a leaking toilet. A house sucks up more dollars than any stereo or car repair, even a BMW, TVAD.
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
boy, that brookstone stereo looks better and better each day. low maintainance and great sound. i own one.
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