"The break down rate on the tubes was only slightly higher retubing for my preamp was $ 550. per year , my power amp $2200. per year"
Wow, that's scary.
The tubes in my ARC sp16 are coming up on 2 years with a lot of play. I have had minor noise issues that I have alleviated by shuffling existing tubes, but I think the time is coming to replace all. From ARC, the cost of doing that is about $30 a tube or $180 dollars total for 6 12AX7s.
I really like the ARC but if I were shelling out hundreds a year just to retain the good sound, it would probably be out the door and back to all SS for me.
Wow, that's scary.
The tubes in my ARC sp16 are coming up on 2 years with a lot of play. I have had minor noise issues that I have alleviated by shuffling existing tubes, but I think the time is coming to replace all. From ARC, the cost of doing that is about $30 a tube or $180 dollars total for 6 12AX7s.
I really like the ARC but if I were shelling out hundreds a year just to retain the good sound, it would probably be out the door and back to all SS for me.