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A sad tale of tube problems...

Before I tried tubes, I was warned that they are a pain, can be expensive, can fail, will develop hum issues, etc. Well, I had no idea how bad it was going to be. I have tried repeatedly over the past couple of years to get some tubes into my system, and everything has failed. If only they didn't sound so good I would just commit to solid state. Here's my tale of woe...

1. As my welcome back to the audiophile world, I bought a hybrid integrated - got a terrible buzz through the right channel. When I turned the balance to the left, the buzz through the right channel got louder. Never got it solved and went to a SS integrated.

2. Got into vinyl and thought a tubed phono amp would be great. The first one lasted 5 minutes and the right channel dropped out completely. Replaced the tubes, still no luck. They sent me a new one, but I was getting significant distortion. Turns out even the lowest gain setting was too high for my integrated amp. Went to a SS phono amp.

3. Tried a single ended tube integrated. Had a hum problem that was audible from 30+ feet away. Shipped it back for repairs. Came back to me and broke down within the week. They sent me a new one - hum was still there although not quite as bad as the first unit. Went back to my SS integrated.

4. Tried another hybrid integrated. Lasted a week before a loud pop caused horrible distortion. Had to send it in for service. Went back to my SS integrated.

5. Bought a SS power amp (worked great) and used my integrated's preout. Then decided to try a tube preamp. Got significant bleed through on one channel, and when the volume was off I was still getting sound through the left channel. Went back to using my integrated as a preamp.

6. Gave one more shot at a tubed preamp. There was some tube rush through the right channel, so I bought upgraded tubes. Put them in and got a terrible hum through the other channel that I couldn't get rid of.

Counting the replacement components, that's 8 tubed products - and not one has worked. I guess I'm doomed to solid state...:(

Just had to vent...
Scott

p.s. I have tried with and without power conditioners and an Emotiva power strip to stop DC on the line. Didn't make a difference.
smrex13
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mapman
15,679 posts
 
Tubes are trickier but that number of issues is surprising. Gotta ask what gear Specifically? There are good products and bad of any ilk. Same goes for tubes themselves.
bojack
539 posts
 
I know what you mean. A few years back, I went through a bad batch of EL34s and low-voltage tubes that kept humming, arching, dying, and imploding like the fourth of July (yes, every one of those issues), and after $1500 down the drain said to hell with it and went back to a SS amp...been happy every since.
cymbop
254 posts
 
Bummer, Smrex. I've used a push-pull integrated for six years without one single hiccup. I Replace the power tubes every two years or so ($80) but expect the small ones to go a decade.
musicslug
403 posts
 
how about finding a dealer who carries, and has lots of experience with, tube equipment, then taking components home for try-outs before buying? a good dealer will do this, and it would've saved you all the above problems.
I've personally used tubes for 20+ years (dynaco, audible illusions, CAT, Cary) with almost no problems. in fact, in some ways, tubes make problem-solving easy, since most issues are just a bad tube, easily diagnosed by switching out tubes. sorry to hear your tale of misery though!
zd542
5,339 posts
 
"For the most part the components were very well respected brands - some new, some used. In any event, I just needed to vent a bit. To me, tubes sound so much better than SS that I will keep chasing the dream :)"

There's no reason why you can't have your dream, instead of chasing it. You just need to alter your approach. If you choose to share some more detailed info, I'm sure we can you make better choices.
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