What do you see as the downside of tubes?

Not sure if anyone mentioned that some tube amps may take a while to warm up and sound right after turned on.

I think tubes at the line stage level in the source or pre-amp rather than in the power amp are a lower impact way to get some of the merits of good tube sound while minimizing the exposure to some of the downsides mentioned. That's where I am with my system at present.

Kusina, wow!

Gotta admit that as someone who just wants to spend as much time as possible listening to good sounding music for reasonable cost high power tube amps employing many tubes in particular do scare me. I'm sure they are fantastic when things are going right but when something goes wrong, then what? Even in lieu of a big bang like Kusina relates, it must take considerable time and energy to replace just the bad tube or tubes when needed.

I have one tube in my DAC, 3 in my phono section and 3 in my pre-amp line level stage. I've been running this setup for about half a year now without issue, but frankly, the thought of dealing with a tube amp capable of delivering in my system scares the crap out of me.

If I used high efficiency horns or some other high efficiency speaker design that did not require lots of juice to sound good, I might take the plunge.

Actually, my 2nd 2 channel A/V system running the Triangle Titus 202s fits that bill. Maybe someday there.....

How do you reliably diagnose the bad or failing tubes for replacement when an amp has so many tubes in use?

Rleff,

Thanks.

I know that it is possible for oneself to keep tube devices in proper working order.

Personally I just haven't done it for a while and never with an expensive hiogh end tube amp and was curious what tools and procedures people use with their high end amps these days.

Like most good things in life, there is some work and know-how involved to maintain anything that is worthwhile.

Not all who like good sound are cut out for this kind of thing though, so I just think people should be made aware of what goes into keeping a good tube amp in good working order, that's all.

Back when tubes were king, into the late 70's, people did it all the time.

Back in those days when I worked at Lafayette Radio and Radio Shack, there was a tube tester in each store, and we used to help people check their tubes as a regular service.

Replacement tubes were stocked in-store and sold regularly as were many common electronic parts.

I sold many a tube and don't recall exact tube prices, but I do not recall ever selling a tube that cost more than $15-20 back then.

Mordante,

"Maybe, just maybe a tube pre-amp would be acceptable but tubes to not belong in power amps."

Given your musical tastes, to which I wander as well on occasion, I strongly recommend trying this approach based on my experiences in the land of tube audio gear thus far if you feel motivated to give some tube gear a try. You might also consider a tube DAC if digital is a main source for you.

"I spent all evening well into the night digging out all kinds of music I had not listened to for eons"

Don't you love it when that happens?

"If there was any way that transistors could be made to make the music that tubes can, I would not be making tube amps"

Atmasphere, is there a scientific explanation for why this is? What is it exactly about tubes that inherently make them sound different than solid state?

Atmasphere,

Are those things inherent in all tubes versus all transistors, or just more common in practice?

Also, if inherent, technically what is different that accounts for these differences?

MIke,

I think that can be true.

More toys to play with. That can be either good or bad.

"Just listen to your tubes and get off already...."

Try these:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9dF2WcrdxdQ