Do tubes last longer in Preamps than Amps?


It seems tubes amps need their tubes replaced every couple of years for hard core listeners like myself who have their amps on many hours each day. I currently have a pair of KRELL KMA-100s and am looking to go tube preamp. Just wondering if I will have to replace the tubes frequently? Also I assume they shouldn't be as expensive as retubing an amp( I hope ?)

any suggestions on a good tube-pre match for my krells appreciated also. I'm into vinyl so phone stage important. My speakers are Tyler Acoustic REF II's.

thanks everyone!
drguayo

Showing 1 response by basement

Tubes that are refered to as "pre-amp" tubes last longer than tubes that are "pover-amp" tubes.
Whether or not the pre-amp tubes will last longer in a pre-amp or a power amp is another question, but in a power amp that uses both, the power tubes will need replacing before the pre-amp tubes will.
Whether or not you should leave the tubes running all the time is a matter of debate. Tubes wear from beiing on and heated, but also wear from being heated and cooled. This would depend on how often you turn them on and off and how the tubes are used in the particular circuit, but preamp tubes are much less expensive than power tubes, so for you part of that will be a matter of personal preference (you might choose to leave it on all the time so you are always "ready to go").
Hope this helps.