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Do new NOS tubes need break-in/running-in?

I have bought a few Mullard ECC88 NOS tubes and to my lousy ears, found no sonic differences between these and my current Amperex ECC88. Quads were used in my ARC LS-16 preamp.

If there is such a thing as break-in for tubes, will NOS tubes sound any different and/or better after break-in? If break-in is required for NOS tubes, what is the rough estimate for break-in period?

I have a strong feeling that I won't be able to get significant sound improvements/differences after prolonged listening hours. Maybe my preamp is not too susceptible to different tubes?

Any opinions or advice would be much appreciated.
ryder

Showing 1 response by davemitchell

davemitchell
253 posts
 
Bill is right. Tubes require less break-in than just about any other electronic device because they have *literally* a vacuum as their primary dielectric.

The concept of "break-in" is really a convenient name for the process of forming the dielectric or insulation layer around a conductor or conductive element.

Part of what makes tubes sound so great and break in so quickly is that there is no insulator surrounding the conductive elements- not even air!
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