Sheesh. The tube amps have the tubes in sockets for a reason. The reason is they are user-replaceable, like a light bulb.
The usual remedy is to install a new tube when one fails. Its not rocket science.
Some power tubes will require some adjustment of the amp, the procedure should be in the owner's manual. Some amps have auto bias and little if any adjustment is required.
It is true that many power tubes fail due to arcing as the cathode structure degrades and starts falling apart. The prudent manufacturer will build the amplifier to withstand this sort of behavior, but oddly enough we do continue to hear about amps that smoke when a tube fails! That says more to me about who built the amp than it does anything about the tubes... We've been seeing tubes arc for as long as there have been tubes, this sort of thing should be sorted out. I avoid amps that have this sort of design problem.
An example of a tube amp that holds together with tubes arcing is the Dynaco ST-70. Now if Dynaco could make that happen way back in the late 1950s you'd think it would be a walk in the park for a manufacturer from the 21st century :)
The usual remedy is to install a new tube when one fails. Its not rocket science.
Some power tubes will require some adjustment of the amp, the procedure should be in the owner's manual. Some amps have auto bias and little if any adjustment is required.
It is true that many power tubes fail due to arcing as the cathode structure degrades and starts falling apart. The prudent manufacturer will build the amplifier to withstand this sort of behavior, but oddly enough we do continue to hear about amps that smoke when a tube fails! That says more to me about who built the amp than it does anything about the tubes... We've been seeing tubes arc for as long as there have been tubes, this sort of thing should be sorted out. I avoid amps that have this sort of design problem.
An example of a tube amp that holds together with tubes arcing is the Dynaco ST-70. Now if Dynaco could make that happen way back in the late 1950s you'd think it would be a walk in the park for a manufacturer from the 21st century :)