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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
samzx12
883 posts
 
02-11-09: Rlwainwright
Take a good look at Butler's tube/MOSFET hybrid amps - sweet tube sound coupled with the balls of the MOSFETs. And, because he is running the tubes at only 5% of their rated output, the tubes are supposed to last more than 20 years.

www.butleraudio.com

-RW-

I am not picking on you and understand everyone has their opinions. Do you own stock in Butler or a dealer because every thread you answer recommends Butler amps. I mean there are tons of nice dependable amps/preamps in this world other than Butler (shaking my head)...lol.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Dodgealum, I have owned three BMWs:1997 Z3, 2000 540i, 2003 330i. All have had substantial and costly maintenance and/or repair issues beyond what I have experienced with other autos.

If you read Consumer Reports, you will also see that BMW autos have a higher incidence of repairs and maintenance than many other brands.

So, I hope you will understand that my analogy was based primarily on my own personal experience with late model BMW cars. I have no doubt there are many BMW owners like yourself who have had years and years of trouble free ownership.

As usual, making non-audio analogies in these threads generates opposing commentary that ultimately is of little value. I wish I hadn't brought it up, and I'm hoping this tangential discussion dies quickly.
ejlif's avatar
ejlif
1,243 posts
 
Yep, I'm pretty much done with tubes. They are cool and sound good, but I know you can also get great sound with solid state, so that is where I'm staying for good. I've owned lots of tube stuff over the years and I have had WAY more trouble with it than solid state.

The thing I like the least about it is the fact you need to turn it off and on. I like my system on and ready to go at all times. With solid state you can do that and it gets me to listen to more music more often.
kjo
44 posts
 
I have Berning, First Sound and Joule Electra tube gear and have had no problems whatsoever. I've had to replace four tubes in the last 18 months is the extent of it. They do require attention but the payoff is well worth it. My SS gear never involved me in the music the way the tube gear does. I must be overdue for some issues but I keep spare tubes on hand just in case. The turning off and on thing is a consideration since I do not like to power the tubes up for brief periods but I have SS gear in a different room for background listening.
semi
646 posts
 
I have owned only tube amps in the past 10+ years, from Quicksilver GLC, ARC VT-100, SF Power 2/3, BAT 150, BAT 75SE, and now BAT 150SE, I might have missed out one or two in between. near zero issue other than occasional tube bias, tube replacement, and fuse change.

I tried to like solid state and bought many to play with, none stayed longer than 3 months.

I told my wife to bury me with tubes when I expire...
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