Can using a bad tube hurt an amplifier?


If you're using a tube for a while, and everything's fine, and then voltage changes over time gradually, and then it damages an amplifier? are amps Built with controls to prevent that from happening?

How can you trust using a tube if it potentially could harm an amplifier?

Assuming You're using the correct tube in the slot provided.

 

emergingsoul

Showing 1 response by unreceivedogma

It depends on the amplifier design. 

I had a 6LF6 tube short the moment I turned on one of my Futtermans, and it somehow - we still haven’t figured out how - blew the low frequency driver completely out and caused the voice coil to lock onto the magnet when it tried to return. 

Amazingly, no damage to the amp! 

That happened once in 40 years and god only knows how many tens of thousands of hours of use.