Owned one for almost 3 years....
NO electrical problems so far and no valve failure
replace the input tubes for NOS, that includes the 6SN7's I use the JJ KT77's as outputs although I may go Genelex 77's next time round or EH EL34's as a standby.
I replaced all the inputs then the blue Ginvina's (EL34) That was like a whole new amp, far clearer and precise mid range, better base and base was tighter, only downside is the top end is still a little harsh on on AAD for my ears on AAD recordings.... I did read reviews on various valves and the comment was that the JJ's tend to be a little 'toppy'... other serious contender for EL34 is the Winged C (svetlana)
Other comment... I often run this amp all day at weekends 8-13 hour stints. The power 'humpty' never gets hot and I can 'rest'my hand on the EL34/77's without getting burnt.
If the valves run this 'cool' may be why my valves are still 'good' after almost 3 years, tested on an AVO VCM 163
THE rolls royce of Tube Testers
NO electrical problems so far and no valve failure
replace the input tubes for NOS, that includes the 6SN7's I use the JJ KT77's as outputs although I may go Genelex 77's next time round or EH EL34's as a standby.
I replaced all the inputs then the blue Ginvina's (EL34) That was like a whole new amp, far clearer and precise mid range, better base and base was tighter, only downside is the top end is still a little harsh on on AAD for my ears on AAD recordings.... I did read reviews on various valves and the comment was that the JJ's tend to be a little 'toppy'... other serious contender for EL34 is the Winged C (svetlana)
Other comment... I often run this amp all day at weekends 8-13 hour stints. The power 'humpty' never gets hot and I can 'rest'my hand on the EL34/77's without getting burnt.
If the valves run this 'cool' may be why my valves are still 'good' after almost 3 years, tested on an AVO VCM 163
THE rolls royce of Tube Testers