I've owned and steadily enjoyed a McIntosh MC275 tube amp and C2600 tube preamp since late 2017. I've never tried to estimate the cumulative hrs. of listening, but it's up there. I purchased a complete replacement set of replacement tubes for both components from McIntosh a couple of years ago, and stored them away for eventual replacement. I don't recall seeing any bias adjustments and frankly didn't know it was a thing. I suppose it's time to swap them out!
Audio Research - should I replace the valves?
I have a AR Ref 110 power amp and AR Ref 3 preamp. Both have done about 3,800 hours. They both work but I wonder if should be replacing the valves.
How can you tell if they’ve had it? Does the sound quality deteriorate & what happens if you don’t replace them?
i don’t think they sounds as good as they did but no pops or whistles or any other strange noises etc - just a bit flat sounding. But perhaps this is just my ears?
pp