stupid tube question of the day

G_m_c

I've heard turning tube equipment on shortens the life of tubes but I hadn't heard anything about a four hour run time. In my amps and preamp the 9 pin tubes are always on to some degree (heater mode) and they and the power tubes in the amps are powered up and down by variacs to reduce shock to the tubes and extend their life.

Your tubes are very expensive I understand your position and was only wondering what the thinking was behind that specific amount of time.

Dgaylin-there are NO stupid questions, except for the ones you don't ask. I don't have a clue either when it comes to tube life. So what is the answer? Hopefully we can get some tube aficianados to chime in on this.
I have been a "solid-state" guy for close to 40 years, but decided to try a tube preamp with my S.S. monoblocks. It has been a "MAGICAL" experience and brings a whole new leval of wonderfullness and "ease" to the sound. But Russian-made 6h30 "super tubes" don't come cheap. At $300.00 a piece (x8 for my preamp) I watch my time on them, and don't leave my preamp on once I am done listening. I DO however leave it in "stand by" mode. And I know that burns up tube life, even if at a slower rate.
B.A.T. says that's not a problem, and that 6h30's should last 10,000 hours. But what about other tubes? What about the the scenerios you bring up? Tube c.d. players? DAC's? Amp's? Running "idle" versus running with a signal flowing through them? All very valid questions.
Will you "tube" guys please impart some of your experiences and knowledge with us tube newbees?

As above tubes will burn out if left on. There are similar threads in the archives. Also please avail yourself to Audio Asylum Tube Asylum. A very knowledgable group of enthusiasts have addressed this issue.
That said I had a Jolida CD player with tube output. I rolled the Jolida tubes (Shuguang?) to NOS Mil Spec Mullards. The change was immense and worth the cost of the tubes. When the CD player gave up the ghost I retrieved the Mullards and tested them after a number of years in service. I didn't leave it on but played it often. I tested the tubes and much to surprise they very strong. So for whatever reason I have seen equipment that was not hard on the tubes. Could it be the design? Possibly I really don't know.
I hope this doesn't confuse you. All my other (a lot) tube gear I turned off or used up tubes listening.

turn the amp on and enjoy it, this is all pretty silly.

Another question: Any suggestions or guidelines on turning tube gear off when taking a listening break, and then back on again when the listening session resumes, if the break only lasts a couple of hours? The point of the question is predicated on the notion, perhaps wrong, that the process of turning tube gear off and an again -- by itself -- stresses and preliminarily ages tubes. Does the suggestion or recommendation change in the case of amplifier power tubes versus signal/audio tubes?? Thanks