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?
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?