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Tired of Problems with Tube Equipment

I switched over to tube audio equipment in some form some years back, and have certainly enjoyed music played back through them. I have had amps, preamps, and DACS at different times utilizing tubes. One unfortunate thing that's been common to all the tube equipment I've had are problems. It doesn't seem to matter whether the manufacturer is large or small, built in the USA or overseas, they all have had problems. Capacitors blowing out, bad solder joints, tubes only lasting a short time, loud pops that mysteriously go away on their own, etc. Although I have enjoyed the sound (and that beautiful glow!), I am starting to get tired of this and thinking of going back to solid state.

Have any of you also gone back (or thought about it) to solid state for this reason? What has your experience been with the reliability of tube equipment?
smeyers

Showing 1 response by atmasphere

atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
12,099 posts
 
Smeyers, FWIW, the 6C33 is a special case in the world of tube amplifiers. Unless the amplifier has custom sockets, the Russian or Chinese sockets that are commonly used are overheated during normal operation. The filament circuit is the part that overheats, and a wire coming off the socket is no surprise- the solder can get hot enough to melt if adequate cooling precautions are not taken.

In addition, expect that for any 6C33-based amplifier without custom sockets, that the sockets will have to be serviced and ultimately replaced on a regular schedule.

Normally in a tube amplifier there is an expectation in the marketplace that the sockets will last for at least 20-30 years. Amplifiers that use the 6C33 are simply not going to meet that expectation.
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