When to change vacuum tubes

Vacuum tubes have only so much life in them as they slowly get mellow with age. Here's how to know if it's time to change them.

[@csabakereszturi945]

I replace them daily, part of my routine, usually after brushing my teeth in the morning.

[@andrewfurst5711]

One way to address this is to have some NOS tubes of the exact same type in service, as a back up. Then at some long interval, change to the new tubes and listen for a while. If there's no notable difference, switch back to the old tubes. After another period of time, try again. Otherwise - if you just automatically change at a time interval - you could be throwing out tubes that are still functional, at least within your system and to your ears.

[@mat.b.]

great advice

[@sepg5084]

This is a better advice than what was said in the video

[@ptg01]

Changing annually seems rather excessive.. Some amps have indicators that tubes are going bad.. That's what I rely on...

[@kevind2760]

Great video. I have tons of tubes made in the 40's, 50's and 60's. Tubes don't age with time, but hours used. Small signal tubes are good for minimum 5,000 and more commonly 10,000 hours. They usually sound best to me at 5,000 hours. At 20 hours a week of listening, which is a lot for most folks, that means well over four years. Really five. Don't waste tubes. The only tube tester is your ear. After you hit 5k hours, replace the tubes with new ones and let the new ones break-in for a couple hundred hours. If it sounds better, which I bet they won't, leave them in. If not, put the old ones back in. With power tubes like EL34 and KT88 the same rules apply but they are usually good for minimum 2500 hours but that's determined by how much plate voltage is applied and how hard they are biased. The GEC tube manual states a KT66 is good for 8,000 hours running at maximum dissipation and 10,000 hours running at 65% which is quite common for a tube amp. I've seen an amp with KT120's in it accidentally left on 24 hours a day for six months which is 4320 hours. They tested at 90% of new. Never leave any tubes on 24 hours a day. There's no need. They are thermionic and get up to temperature in 3 minutes. The exception is big KT150's which takes 9 minutes. The Bob Carver "story" of 50 years is silly. I've certainly re-tubed plenty. They cut the tubes off from dissipation when there is no signal so in theory the tubes can last longer....unless you turn on the music. Then they are like any other amp. There is no magic way to extend tube life. The same rules apply to every amp. That's why I hate bullsh*t in this business. So much annoying crap with half-truths.

[@juanmillaruelo7647]

We changed tubes when they went bad. Nobody in the electronics and audio magazines of the 60's and 70's advised otherwise, Paul, and we used tubes heavily. My Sherwood FM tuner worked for 25 years without changing a single tube. It was retired in full working order.

[@jimclark5617]

Bob Carver tube amps don't consume tubes. I've been selling them for years and the original tubes still test the same as the day they were installed 4 years ago. Customers love them.

[@MickTimmy]

Who could possibly afford that. It's ridiculous

[@scottyo64]

Unless I was listening 24/7 I wouldn't change my tubes out that often....

[@marcse7en]

Exactly! Somebody with common sense! 👍😂

[@laurelhardy4064]

That's the advantage of owning tube components, every time you replace the tubes you are amazed by how much better the system sounds.

[@peterr.7429]

Love the mountains in the background, they look great

[@beechdi]

I have recently changed all the tubes in my Audio Note amp and DAC. The difference was like night and day (allowing for the burn-in time of course). Fell in love with music all over again !!!

[@subliminalvibes]

I just asked my Dad and he's replaced his tubes eight times since 1982. (Twice per decade) He's extrapolated a couple hours listening per week x 52 weeks, etc. and by Paul's calculations I'd say he's got that just about right! This may change if he starts using it more now he's retired this year. 👍😎

[@L.Scott_Music]

I'd love to hear a discussion on the nature of vacuum tube degradation. What and how does a tube degrade.

[@InsideOfMyOwnMind]

They degrade in multiple ways. Not only does the cathode lose it's emitting properties causing a "weak" tube but gasses are released from the elements of the tube structure causing the tube to be eventuality uncontrollable like a nuclear reactor that has too much contamination at it's end of life.

[@zulumax1]

@@InsideOfMyOwnMind Grid leakage runaway conduction? You can also tell high hour tubes by tungsten burn, a smokey deposit left by the heater above the glass, not to be confused with the getter chrome deposit which is there to absorb the impurities as the tube ages. As the getter material is used up, as in a high hour tube, the chrome shiny spot gets smaller and dark around the edges. If you see a coco coffee color to the getter spot around the edges, that is also a sign of end of a hard life.

[@InsideOfMyOwnMind]

@@zulumax1 I see all of those properties almost on a daily basis. More common in my experience however is the output tube that just arcs out regardless of age.

[@twraven1]

In a preamp I would say every two years is sufficient assuming you don’t keep your preamp powered up all the time. In that case definitely replace them every year. Tube rolling in a pre can make a huge difference, negatively or positively in performance. If you select NOS tubes buy them matched from a reliable and knowledgeable NOS dealer not on the cheap from eBay. Also I have found cryo’d tubes can offer a big step up in performance and longevity too.

[@wfranklin990]

The tubes in my preamp are now going on almost 20 years. They've probably got more mileage left on them than I do!

[@chrish.4067]

IDK, my RCA 45 tubes have sounded great for years when compared to new 45 or 2A3 tubes. Maybe changing tubes every year is for newly manufactured tubes? Got to listen with your own ears, lots of B.S. in tube lore. All of a sudden the tubes that some dealers have in stock are the best ever. YMMV ✌

[@Roof_Pizza]

When you're bored.

[@jeremiahchamberlin4499]

I have change them every 6 months? Naaaah, not me! Every five years, maybe. And I believe it makes a difference what the tube is used for: pre-amp, rectifier, or output. Output is the most critical for sound reproduction, is it not?

[@subliminalvibes]

Yeah a couple of times per decade is what my dad calculated too, given a couple hours listening each weekend.

[@zulumax1]

I like the sound of a set of well seasoned output tubes. A new set of tubes will sound a tad harsh and strident until they get a few hundred hours on them. I replace mine when they are at 50% of rated GM rating of a new set.

[@MrPeeBeeDeeBee]

How can it be reference system when you notice that much difference on changing the valves? The logical conclusion here is that the sound you are referring to in your 'reference' sound is continually changing right?

[@spacemissing]

Change tubes when there is a Noticeable problem or undesirable effect that goes away when a tube is replaced. Otherwise you are wasting money. Some tubes will last for decades; others will last only a few months.

[@BC-fy1wn]

Bob Carver ,disagrees with you.A correctly designed MODERN vacuum tube based system need not be so hard on their tubes. BC

[@InsideOfMyOwnMind]

I can see his point. With more sophisticated power supplies and NFB, better coupling and decoupling you might get away with going a little deeper into AB1 which can make a difference with the output tubes but doesn't address the front end. Regarding that, more stages, lower B+, careful choice of tubes, I can see it. Still however, the tubes are going to be the thing you do most.

[@WalterGalindo]

Hard to answer... but yeah modern power supplies + power conditioners in front of the amp will extend Tube degradation, it also depends on amp design, but 3-5 years seem like a more measured approach

[@stimpy1226]

Is that really you Bob? I am a big fan. I used to own a Phase Linear 400 and 4000 when I was a young man (see photo on left) driving my Dalquist DQ 10’s. At present, I have your True Signature Sub in my system and and It mates really well with my Maggies. Keep those innovative designs coming. You are a master of unique audio design.

[@InsideOfMyOwnMind]

@@stimpy1226 We don't know. We may never know. No content on BC's channel. It would be cool though, and while I don't worship the guy I do respect him for his accomplishments. I have a 400 in my cue now and after all these years the core elements are still very well intact.

[@stimpy1226]

@@InsideOfMyOwnMind I don’t worship any person on this earth but I do admire many people and Bob Carver is one of them. He is a creative genius in the field of audio design and most of his ideas are very unique.

[@bdmcn]

I have small preamp tubes by Telefunken and Siemens that are known to have a life of about 10,000 hours. Even if I kept my all tube rig on 24/7, it would take more than a year OR TWO. I plan to change mine out every few years, but keep the ‘used’ ones for backup.

[@edwhite7475]

Im here representing the guitar players using tube amps. Even when i was playing 4 hours a night +, i never changed my power tubes in my 50 watt Marshalls...pre amp tubes went bad every couple years, but those are relatively inexpensive, but NEVER in the power section...re biasing was about it. I changed the 6550s after 30 years, but they werent bad even then. Im sure my old vintage stock tube stash are WAY better than the new China or Russian made tubes of old, but still, at $75 each, those add up quickly. Good luck to all of you.

[@mikeinmontana8875]

With this 'build back better' bit.. we're holding on to what we have, for as long as we can. Back-ups are stored.

[@halbrody4513]

Thx. Great advice. Haven’t owned tube components. Generally (I know, what’s generally? ) how difficult are tubes to replace in an amp or preamp? I’m very unmechanical and have usually looked for plug and play. Thx.

[@OscarSanchez-tk3hx]

I own A Carver vacuum tube pre amplifier from the early 90's the model C19 it uses 4 cdg8 tubes I have never replace the tubes should I

[@rainman3269]

Paul ... What brand of tubes do you use in you're equipment please ... Look forward to hearing ... Regards

[@MrRednhot]

So Paul is it all tubes in the Amp Or ? @ PS Audio

[@bobross6802]

I'm a retired TV tech. The best example to me re: aging vacuum tubes is the TV picture tube. Many folks don't see the degradation in the picture tube but when you change it, it looks like new again. All the other tubes age the same way ....

[@BlankBrain]

If you lower the filament voltage and design the circuit around that performance, you can get much longer life out of tubes. It's similar to installing 105° caps where possible (they last longer). Back in the day, they had tube checkers, and we knew how to use them.

[@johannkrist]

Well, Thanks for that.. Just ordered a new set of Vacuum tubes for my Vincent SV-237. Lets see how it goes :)

[@kevind2760]

They are good for 5-10k hours. Don't worry.

[@Bassotronics]

I just get my vacuum cleaner, put it in reverse and re-vacuum them

[@jeffjames4064]

I tried that but the vacuum cleaner got pulled into the tube. WTF? I guess the tube was good after all.😁

[@Bassotronics]

@ *jeff James* If the machine is in the tube, that will be quite an interesting sounding tube.

[@discy12345]

I don't think you need to put it in reverse. Anyway. 😬

[@Bassotronics]

@ *daroke* I mean, away from the joke, if the vacuum was powerful enough and sealed, then yes, could actually pressurize the vacuum tubes and remove all the air. 😁

[@moshegoldstein4663]

Hi Paul.the issue of tube replacement is interesting.lets say i use the tube amp for 15 hours a week..do i still need to replace them once a year? Will be more than happy to receive your answer paul.thanks.moshe.

[@SantanKGhey1234]

Great answer, just like the spark plugs, brake pads or tires on our cars..... We drive our cars so frequently, that as it ages and wears out, we also become use to how it performs or drives... we think its the norm/or in top performance.. but it really isn't... we shouldn't wait until our car ultimately breaks down and fails.... same with our audio gear, especially $$$ gear...take care of it, it will take care of you... when the time comes to resell, it will still be worth a good penny

[@palipixel]

Maximizing usable life of a properly made receiving tube is a big topic, and involves a lot of variables. Not the least of which is the specific circuit in which the tube is used. No question that the sound of an amp can be changed when new tubes are fitted, but the changes may not be for the reasons assumed by the person(s) installing the new tubes. Lots of folks like 'tube rolling' because they get to explore the sonic changes from the newly-fitted tube(s).

[@googoo-gjoob]

you dont notice the tread wearing on your tires. but the day you exchange those bologna skins for fresh tires...oh my!

[@hoselrocket2001]

I assume this "once per year" guidance only refers to power tubes. There is no way a preamp tube needs to be changed that frequently. And there is no way I'm changing my Psvane ACME 805's annually at $800 a pair....they should last several thousands of hours.

[@skularatna8136]

haha exactly

[@H-77]

Tubes generally last far longer than most people think. So much of it depends on the use case that "every year" or "every 1000 hours" is a useless measure.

[@kengevers8738]

Buy a tube tester and check them periodically. If you have many amplifiers, like I, then a worth while investment. Cheers

[@Labor_Jones]

I bought a TUBE Checker I haven't learned to use yet, but it is my hope that this will help me to be a Wiser Shopper and a Wiser Audiophile..... my cost of Mullard replacements for '4' Mono Amps would be close to $600 bucks a year which for a retired Laborer is pretty high.

[@graxjpg]

Old school tube testers are really fun and simple pieces of equipment that I love to use

[@laurentzduba1298]

Mine has a needle that points to either ok or replace.

[@stimpy1226]

I just had a situation where my 21 year old Audio Research VT 100 Mark III had an open circuit resistor in the bias adjustment circuitry. This is the first time that I had one bit of trouble with this amplifier. I had a full complement of tubes sitting in a closet which I gave to the lab tech who repaired the amp. I’ll respond the same way Paul did in this video… OMG what a giant difference In the sound of my system in every way imaginable. Tubes are expensive and Audio Research would have charged me $700-$900 for the tube replacement alone without even touching on the huge shipping charges and repair costs. From now on I will be changing tubes on an annual basis. A good company to purchase tubes from is Upscale Audio and the full complement of Cryo’d tubes matched in quads was about $350 half the price that Audio Research would’ve charged me. That is something I can afford.

[@graxjpg]

Open resistors in the bias circuitry could lead to red plating tubes, which could take out other components including a transformer!

[@stimpy1226]

@@graxjpg You are right but I caught this problem in time. The entire amplifier was checked out after the problem was filed top to bottom and everything else is fine at least a present

[@graxjpg]

@@stimpy1226 that’s good to hear, those are great amplifiers to me! Cheers to having yours working! I get my tubes from antique electronic supply, but I am mostly buying 12ax7s and 6L6s.

[@stimpy1226]

@@graxjpg I’ll check out that company. Thanks for your input

[@horspiste]

When I was at school in the 1960's I became a radio amateur and built most of my own equipment, including transmitters and AM modulators. The latter I based on hi-fi designs of the period (Mullard "Circuits For Audio Amplifiers"). Being an impecunious schoolboy I could not generally afford to buy new components so many of the KT66's, EL34's and EL84's in the modulators were second-hand and had seen unknown hours of previous use. One of the few brand new valves I had, of which I was very proud, was a Mullard QQVO3-20A ( www.r-type.org/exhib/aam0028.htmwww.r-type.org/exhib/aam0028.htm ). Unless they were seriously abused, over a period of 5-6 years of very active use I can't recall ever having to replace a failed valve. Maybe the "golden eared" can indeed tell the difference between a new valve and a year-old valve, but in my experience they are capable of many years of good, or perhaps I should say "adequate"?, service. A lot of amateur gear in those days was bought from ex-WWII surplus stores and adapted accordingly - who knows what sort of life those valves had had? Worked pretty well though.

[@m.9243]

It also depends on how 'hard' are the tubes been driven. In output tubes, if they operate well below their specs, they would last a number of years. And biasing has of course a lot to do with it. Don't over-bias them and they will be good for a long time. Input tubes are usually not working anywhere near their limits so, they should last longer. One reason for changing them is for 'tube rolling', trying to get a "better / different" sound from them. Not so much about reliability.

[@Jack96993]

I have the VAC PA 100 100 tube amp & ARC LS15 tube pre amp that l bought new in 1995 and just replaced the tubes in both units last year!! It was only last year l couldn't that l couldn't bias the KT88's in the VAC amp

[@laurentzduba1298]

I got Sovtek and Svetlana tubes from 1995 that still registers ok when placed in a tube tester. Weird given that they are now way beyond their 40,000-hour lifespan. 🤔

[@BlankBrain]

I know of an amplifier that was on 24/7 from 1958 through 1974 (980k hours) without changing tubes. It still worked fine.

[@spacemissing]

Tube testers are far from ideal indicators of tube performance. A curve tracer gives a much more telling result, but this sort of test requires knowledge plus a few pieces of bench gear that can be rather expensive, and the high voltages involved must be properly handled. Ultimately, the best test of any tube is How It Performs In The Circuit Where It Is Used.

[@laurentzduba1298]

@@spacemissing my tube tester is a mid 1990s era kit that allows it to be connected to a Windows 95 capable PC where the PC loaded with the required software magically turns into a low cost Fast Fourier Transform analyzer. Sadly, I have yet to borrow a dedicated $20,000 FFT analyzer to compare to my mid 1990s unit.

[@jeffjames4064]

I've heard you can change the sound on amps by changing the "type?" Of tube. Anybody know where I can get more information?

[@xjimmy225x]

You wouldn’t change the type of tube but different brands have different “signature sounds.” If my memory serves me correct, Electro Harmonix tend to be a little bright. Gold Lions have a warm midrange (my personal recommendation based on price). There are quite a few videos on here of people comparing tubes but through KZbin you’re not really going to hear the correct differences. Best way to find the tubes you like is to do your research and then hear them in person, preferably on your own system. Make sure if you buy new tubes you get a matched pair. Each tube has some microphony and ideally you want two, or however you need, with the same measurements. I wouldn’t buy from eBay but someone like Upscale Audio is good. Btw this is referred to as “tube rolling.” Lastly, there are two categories of tubes when shopping, new and NOS (new old stock). All NOS means is they’re new tubes, never used, but were produced years (probably decades) ago. Some people swear older tubes were made better and sound better so they want tubes from the 70s or whichever they think sound best. They may sound better or different than tubes produced today but they’ll cost significantly more due to their scarcity

[@dwmfty3111]

If you want to learn about tubes Mr Carson lab KZbin it

[@tothemax324]

Caution! rabbit hole activated

[@solarfall2728]

@@xjimmy225x Some amps allow you to use different tubes. And I mean actual types, not brands. EL34, KT88, 6550, etc..

[@volpedo2000]

Wow every six months, a year? How much would that cost for a hi end amplifier?

[@stimpy1226]

A whole lot of money.

[@williampearson4968]

@@stimpy1226 I have heard Audio Research is in the tube business!

[@stimpy1226]

@@williampearson4968 no I have not heard that. They are selling Sovtek 6550 tubes for my power amplifier but that’s all I know. So does Upscale Audio and they are selling them for less than half the price that Audio Research is asking.

[@richardvannoy1198]

The answer is simple. When the vacuum stops working.🤣

[@graxjpg]

This reminded me I haven’t changed the tubes in my guitar amp in a long while. I like to change em semi frequently so I build a little collection of used tubes for fixing others amps and building stuff, but I don’t bias my amps too hot so the tubes don’t really wear that much.

[@laurentzduba1298]

During the 1991 NAMM, a company - whose name I sadly forgot (Demeter, Mark of the Unicorn?) - had a digital guitar effects device with a mode that simulates the sound of a tube a few days before arcing and going dead - i.e. the aging tube sound. The setting reminds me of the sound of the guitars in the ending of Slayer's Seasons in the Abyss.

[@graxjpg]

@@laurentzduba1298 LOL that is absolutely hilarious!! I have a few digital multi- effects devices, none of which with such a hilarious effect.

[@TheChrisleekay]

I never thought you had to change them that often! So once a year on pre-amp tubes to!!??

[@H-77]

Only if you believe the people who sell tubes.

[@janinapalmer8368]

Oh c'mon .... every year ?? They are only a pair of baby ECC83's ... low power triodes .... the only thing that would start dropping off would be gain

[@Mikexception]

In solid amplifiers do not expect time wear because their electrical data are still the same and we "do not imagine" something lost . In vacuum tubes electrical data we may measure also good as new , amplifier works beautiful but we imagine time wear and trust to that imagined emotions My advice is to change tubes when channels one to another show difference because in any set there is always one weakest and when that one is gone first still 3 other will be satisfactory so at first moment only one channel will be affected - can be traced when balance of stereo needs change comparing to past . The same with SE. To be sure we easy can exchange tubes in channels - when really tube is worn problem will shift

[@jeffn1384]

I ain't changing 8 kt150s every 6 months, I tell ya

[@googoo-gjoob]

his IRS system is probably on 6= hrs/day.

[@johnsweda2999]

get a tube tester you can buy cheap ones plug into your PC USB I wouldn't say it's necessary for a preamp they don't generally wear out they are driven very low. What tubes Paul do you use in your amps make and type?

[@jamesrobinson9176]

He uses matsushida or Mitsubishi (I believe) . I'm certain that they're 12au7. Upscale audio used to be THE source for those tubes when ps audio had retail stores. Kevin claimed to have tested dozens in the bhk and those were the best, in fact he sold them as a package.

[@johnsweda2999]

@@jamesrobinson9176 ok!

[@graxjpg]

Older ones can be had for dirt cheap as they usually have dried up caps etc, but the circuitry is so simple a guitar player could fix it. Those old style tube testers are a lot of fun!

[@turtlechris2]

Buy a nice tube tester like etracer. Or maybe simply measure the voltage drop across the cathode resistor if your amp is using auto bias.

[@andyhyde4711]

59 bogen with all original tubes and caps. Lucky find i probly put 8k hours on it so far in last 2 years.

[@BELupdates]

Doesn't the life of the tube depend on bias?

[@richardgray8593]

Audiophiles gotta have deep pockets.

[@merakrut]

Every time I replace tubes in my M&A TVA 1 amplifier the sound gets worse, new tubes need many hours before they start to sound good. I have NEVER heard brand new tubes sound good right out of the box. I have old tubes with thousands of hours still sounding crisp and clean compared to brand new that sounds "hazy" until broken in. If an amplifier only sounds good with brand new tubes it's not a good amp.

[@bradschofield9400]

LOL - if he thinks it still sounds great, then every couple of years would be a good expense compromise. Now i need to get busy on mine - thanks for the reminder. Side note: i bet you dont allow drinks (spill risk) in the production area…someone gonna be in trouble for brining in that Big Gulp cup.

[@graxjpg]

I love it when Paul pulls things out of static bags without grounding himself, brings drinks onto the production floor, or picks up heavy equipment on his own with one hand etc. makes for great television!

[@hugobloemers4425]

I am not sure I would do that.

[@johnsears4197]

Every year we in make the music crowd believe they don't sound well till they get old help me understand

[@stephens2r338]

If you're asking why old Nos (new old stock) sounds better it's simply because they had the knowledge skills and were allowed to use dangerous chemicals like lead. We have lost the competence and know how. A couple of manufacturers still use the same equipment from the 30s (most equipment was destroyed) such as EAT or KRAUDIO and still know some of the tricks. They are still not as good as Nos because they can't use the same materials However they still sound better than Chinese valves but they cost 4x the price. Saying that so do Nos but as stocks run out prices will keep on rising.

[@graxjpg]

Not just old, but worn in too. NOS tubes are great but they still don’t sound their peak until they are about to burn up LOL

[@stephens2r338]

The golden rule is after 8000 hours on small tubes and 2000 on large. Modern tubes are poor quality and not built to last. The sound sucks too so replacing them earlier probably is a good idea and improvement. If you using 40 year old Nos tubes then get them measured to see that they are still functioning correctly. If so then keep using them. Guaranteed they will still sound better than the latest versions.

[@graxjpg]

Old tube testers are great for checking nos tubes, provided that the tester has been refurbished.

[@chefsteve8381]

Spot on !

[@HiFiInsider]

change the tubes when the upgrade bug bites which is typically much sooner than the life of the tubes. lol....

[@peterjmcgee4680]

Well I hate to say this but you don't have to change them every year if you do what I do I have a tube tester I periodically remove the tubes from the unit I have an old Fisher 400 receiver and I played quite often and I have a brand new set of tubes sitting in the closet and I check the tubes out at least once every 6 months and I haven't seen any real I would say problems with the tubes they are right there where they were when I first bought the unit I bought the unit second hand I did smart thing and I went out I bought all new tubes and I made sure that all the capacitors and everything in the unit were all good I replaced anything that was week and I made sure the whole house system I went through the whole entire thing and I basically overhauled the whole entire unit and this thing works like a peach it's like everything else that I own I like to keep it in Tip-Top shape and I check it all the time instant vintage reel-to-reel I have Nakamichi cassette you name it I've been going through my equipment for a long time and I keep up on it I also have some Modern surround sound equipment that I have basically gone through and modified that cause I did not like the op-amps that were in it and I replace them with something better as long as you maintain your equipment properly tubes can last a long time don't you watch them and you check them periodically on a tester and make sure the readings are good I still have a brand new set of tubes laying on the side in the boxes just in case and I keep an eye on my whole entire system and I listen to them through a pair of Altec Lansing voices its theater so like I said I like vintage stuff as well as some Modern as long as you maintain it properly it won't continue to work

[@larryh.4629]

Your budget I would too...

[@LuxAudio389]

Time to re R&D some of the newer PS audio gear. The tubes were spent. 😭Ehh or maybe it sounds better that way since it's over engineered 🤦

[@tothemax324]

Give me a pair of Western Electrics 300b and I will change them immediately, thanks

[@robertsupercalifragilistic7404]

I would say yes to replacing your tubes every year, if your equipment was running 24/7 365 days. If you’re a weekend listener… years

[@geirendre]

I have tubes in 60 years old radios that sounds just as good as the new if I try replacing them. So that all tubes degrade and so fast that it warrants replacing them each year? No, I dont think it's that simple.

[@Dutchamp]

One year nonsens I replace all pre tubes ones in two years and power tubes every 4 years. Yes you can hear the difference from old to new. But when I want to replace them all at ones I spend over 350 euro, little costly. But always better then listen to transistors, I don't like them.

[@JonSaperia]

I have read in several places that high quality NOS tubes from about 50 years ago last much longer and degrade more slowly than tubes currently manufactured. I replaced all the tubes on my pre amp and phono stage with NOS Mullards because I liked the sound better. I have not had them very long so it will be a long time before I can say how long they really sound good

[@Dutchamp]

@@JonSaperia I use old stock Russian 6sn7 and they preform very well for 6550 I use Russian sovtek they are far better then other new brands. Shame Swetlana doesn't make new tubes anymore. I found the old stock is indeed better but the prices going to the roof.

[@tothemax324]

@@Dutchamp Big fan of Melz hole plate 6H8C, beautiful

[@Dutchamp]

@@tothemax324 same quality mine now are from 1962 great full sound fat deep and beautiful mids, soft high without nasty tops

[@EricRosenfield]

Change your vacuum tubes every year is an expensive recommendation.

[@PooNinja]

Why do tubes sound best just before they stop working. 🤣

[@graxjpg]

Because of the effect that constantly slamming the grids has on the tubes! Someday somebody will redesign tubes to sound like that fresh

[@stimpy1226]

Poo Ninja …I don’t think they do. If you keep them in your amplifier too long then you’re just getting used to the sonic degradation because it’s happening very slowly like Paul’s hair grows.

[@graxjpg]

@@stimpy1226 if you bias a guitar amp hot, then play it for 100hrs or so, you will hear the difference. If I had some worn out tubes I would make a video about it.

[@stimpy1226]

@@graxjpg For sure. My amplifier is biased on the hot side. 65 mV per output pair.

[@graxjpg]

@@stimpy1226i bet it sounds great, you play guitar?

[@genez429]

When to change tubes? When they begin to smell funny. And ...new tubes should be burped about an hour after first use. (I really baby my system)

[@oldskool1979]

Id change them out every 3-5 years....

[@jamesrobinson9176]

Replace in sets when applicable. If you replace a tube on the left channel do the same for it's twin on the right. Some tubes last MUCH longer than others, and frustratingly enough, some tubes sound their best just before they burn out. ☺☺☺☺ ain't it great 👍

[@graxjpg]

As a guitar player, I also find that tubes sound best (given the circuit sounds good for guitar) when biased a little too hot and on the verge of burning up! However, I don’t have the money to be replacing tubes every 45 hours of playing so I bias my amps just within spec and just crank the hell out of em.

[@jamesrobinson9176]

@@graxjpg that's what Eddie van Halen did allegedly. Supposed to have used up much of the nos supply of 6550s.

[@graxjpg]

@@jamesrobinson9176 angus young of AC/DC biases his amps so hot that they often don’t last a single gig. He brings about 40 Marshall heads on stage, and about 100 on tour! Grossly excessive in my opinion.

[@jamesrobinson9176]

@@graxjpg sounds about right ☺. Bias points are often tightly guarded secrets

[@mat.b.]

If you're changing tubes on an annual basis then those tubes must be trash to begin with. If tubes are rated for 3000, 5000, 10,000 hours....follow that, dont just swap and toss for no reason. To keep with the hair analogy, this is like getting a haircut every week. Excessive, unless its so cheap it doesnt matter.

[@JDG1971]

Vacuum Tubes sound excellent. But no more Vacuum Tubes for me for 10 years. Replacing and playing in is just super annoying. The High-end I'm using now is unbelievably good and plays fantastically and wonderfully no Vacuum Tubes. Do not get me wrong. Vacuum Tubes sound good. But for me it's goodbye Vacuum Tubes. Hmmm love it without. Ooh yeah baby😉✌😘👍🥳

[@johnolson4977]

Replacing all the vacuum tubes whether they need it or not , isn’t very GREEN Paul …🤔

[@josephfuller7008]

He’s not giving good advice. Most power tubes will last about 2000 hours in most amps. That’s a general rule of thumb and the amplifier design does matter. I own Quicksilver amps and preamps along with Audible Illusions pre amp. The Audible tubes only last a year at most. They run those tubes right to their limit in that circuit. The QS mid mono power last for me about 2 1/2 years. I’ve kind of figured out I listen on the weekends about 8 hours. I listen on some weekdays for an hour a day not every day. The preamp tubes in the QS last about the same as the amp. The Phono preamp tubes are still going strong after three years. Changing tubes every 6 months is throwing money away. Even the Audible Illusions which is well known for eating tubes can last a year on a set.

[@trebushett2079]

Good sales pitch, if nothing else.

[@rammisframmis8588]

And just by coincidence PS audio will sell you new tubes. The truth is that tubes can last for a decade or more (especially true for small signal tubes such as in a preamp), and power amplifier tubes can last almost as long - it depends on how many hours a day you use the amplifier. What Paul is saying is absolutely a money grab and is absolutely untrue. If he were selling tires, he'd recommend replacing them every six months.

[@InsideOfMyOwnMind]

At tax refund time.

[@mikeb8750]

I wouldn’t be surprised if these garbage modern day tubes wear out in a year. Definitely not 50’s and 60’s tubes. I’ve run some tubes every weekend for years and they still measure strong.

[@AnalogueGround]

You're perpetuating a myth with the 'garbage modern tube' statement. 50s and 60s tubes were always failing and no different to today - it all depends on the equipment they're used in and how hard they're driven. Small signal tubes seem to have random failures and always did and can last a long time in service. They can also become microphonic as did the tubes back in the day. Power tubes in some power amplifiers are driven harder today and can fail prematurely if just user swapped out without setting the bias correctly. I have Leslie amplifiers with a couple of original 1960s 6550 tubes still going strong but they're only dissipating 40W peak between them which is well below what they can deliver. Unless you compare like for like and over hundreds of installations it's too easy to dismiss modern tubes. There seems to be a resentment in the user base of the fact that most tubes today are made in China or Russia and not the UK or the good old US of A. Visit one of those factories and you'll be astounded at the precision of manufacturing, the quality control and the passion of the people who run them who in some cases are Americans.

[@kenbtheman]

BS

[@TheBodhisattvaWisdom]

Don't... Just stay with solid state, and enjoy the music.

[@21mikeross]

Yeah, I had all solid state system for 20 years. Sounds way crappy compared to tubes. Never going back to all solid state system! With tubes, I enjoy all genre of music. Whereas, with the all solid state system, I was mainly listening to single female vocals.

[@Mikexception]

I wish I could resign from tube amplifier which in hot days heats me up my room. But having always set of two amplifiers solid and tube in two different configurations ( solid Luxman and tube Pioneer and later solid Uher and tube Bell) playing with the same speakers and the same sources and adjusting sound so that would be at best for solid after longer comparisons it always turned that solid couldn't make it. Even in lowest frequencies Bell tube amp is unbeatable only on condition that sound is formed in that Uher solid preamplifier In other words - in careful comparison solid Uher preamp is achievement but solid Uher end stands a step behind tubes .

[@TheBodhisattvaWisdom]

I have very big Horning hybrid horns, with two 12" backfiring woofers on each side, and a Lowther DX 4 on the front. The ONLY amp design, to really dig out the deepest bass, was a class d amplifier.