Tube Preamps Should Have This Feature


So it's late or you just want some casual listening for a short time. "Should I fire up my tube pre for 30 minutes?". My answer is "No". Why not let me flip a switch (or push in the volume control) to put my pre into "bypass" mode? Bypass would, effectively, convert your pre into a passive device, keeping the tubes dark.

This sounds useful to me.

128x128dweller

@ghdprentice  power tubes do age faster, but those are in the output stage of an amplifier, not in the power supply section usually, though some power tubes can be used as rectifiers and in some regulation positions.

@invalid 

That makes sense the lasting longer would not extend from power tubes to rectifier and smaller tubes.

So, what is your preamp / DAC.

@ghdprentice my preamp is space tech Lab qa112 and my DAC is also space tech Lab DA24/196, I'm using a separate power supply with the preamp called a super rectifier STR104 with two 3b22 rectifier tubes each rectifier tube has a 6amp heater current.

Thanks. Interesting. I had not heard of them. Lots of tubed equipment. They must use the tubes conservatively to get so much mileage out of them. Always good to see different audio companies.

Your speaker coils need the 20-30 minute warm up more than the tube amp or pre amp......According to Steve Deckert
 

Very interesting. Never heard of that before. And I am not saying this with any sarcasm.