Audible illusions Modulus 3A or Klyne 6L

Audible Illusions have their own recommendations regarding tube selection.

http://www.audioasylum.com/audio/tubes/messages/21/213226.html

Curiously, they only recommend russian tubes with a certain reserve for everything else stating that the owner must look for rugged tubes.

Some research on the net will provide a lot of info, including remarks on tube eating characteristics of the AI in official reviews in well known magazines (Soundstage) pertaining to the tube eating problem starting from the higher gain and now the on/off and constant voltage.

Just got off the phone to Audible Illusions and it turns out that the tube filaments are always lit because it actually lengthens the life of the tubes avoiding intial voltage rush. Yes they are recommending a specific Sovetek tube and they sell for $110.00 per pair. I intend on purchasing them myself.

Great ! In my experience, they're the only manufacturer which,in my knowledge and experience, have such a design for supposedly preserving the tubes.

I have VAC and Conrad Johnson preamps, both start on mute and necessitate a few minutes warm up and stabilizing with signaling on the machine. Different design ? And I can use any brand of tubes on them without restriction and tried a lot. And I never burned a set until know although I admit I roll a lot ! And I've never read, on Audiogon or elsewhere,or experienced that all tube preamps are tube eaters with AI beeing the exception. Never ! I don't read any complaints that a specific unit is generally known to shorten tube life except.....well of course !

Please educate me. Although I've read a lot on the present subject just by typing the brand's name with "tube problem" in Google, I would like to read the info you've got on other audio manufacturers having similar problems with similar reputation.

Oh yes, I forgot ! The ARC SP-10 !

I've got no experience with the Klyne 6L, but I can highly recommend the AI mod3a. I’ve been using the AI product for many years *(with no problems) starting with the mod3, then the mod3a, and now I use the mod3b. My preference has been to use the Russian tubes... The tube eating stories are very dated.

I agree with Stickman451, that the Hovland would best the AI easily but at what price. Additionally Hovland is out of business; Art on the other hand is just slow.