2. amps-preamps
  3. 163936-116213

Best temperature for optimum tube performance

Is there an optimum temperature range in which tubes perform best?
I've been running tube amps/preamps for over 40 years and have always placed a small, quiet fan in front of them to prevent excessive heat build-up (a modified, two-door antique silver cabinet is where they reside).
I'm aware that electrical resistance increases in proportion to increasing temperature, but am I somehow decreasing the optimum performance of my tube components with this strategy?
128x128rettrussell

Showing 1 response by firebird66

firebird66
15 posts
 
I can only add this... I have an Audio Research D160 tube amp from the early eighties, 1982 to be exact. It uses 6550 tubes biased to 65 mV, according to factory specs. Way to hot for any practical life. I have "detuned" them to 46-48 mV to calm things down while maintaining proper gain.  The amp came equipped with two fans to bathe the tubes in cool air.  And naturally, per the owner's manual, the amp takes a couple hours of use to achieve thermal equalibrium. Use this to your benefit. The detuning and the fans really help in this specific example.

Happy listening
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