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Audio Research REF3 tube question clarification


Audio Research REF3 kindly clarify.

Do the 5 Sovtek 6H30PI tubes have to be all matched to get the best sonic performance?

What do the 5 tubes actually control?

Hours on tubes, when should they be changed to get the BEST sonic performance as there seems to be different opinions.

Sovtek 5 tubes, some say change them up to 1600-1800 hours but other sugest 3000 hours, which is it?

Winged "C" (SED) 6550C tube, some say change up to 800 hours but others sugest 3000 hours, which is it?
dev

Showing 1 response by microstrip

microstrip
180 posts
 
Tube life depends mainly on cathode current - the same tube used in different circuits can last for very different times.
Most tube preamplifiers work in class A, meaning that tube current is constant. Unless you have all data from your preamplifier you should rely on manufacturer advice.
The referred values for the 6550 (1500 hours) are typical for a power tube in an Audio Research amplifier operated at 65mA bias and do not apply to the Ref3 - my Ref3is now over 4300 hours and the 6550 still measures over 8500 micromhos.
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