Tube Life and the Mute Switch

There is a difference between muting the outputs and standby. On mute, all tubes are heated and energized. Outputs are muted; tubes are live.

Swampwalker, what will that difference mean to tube life span?

All the time on mute will count against the 2000 hours. It seems a strange recommendation given that their website recommends turning off tube gear between uses.

2000 hours is only 83 days.

Understandable why mute counts against the 2000 hours. Not knowing exactly how my Cary 303 works, I have to ask: if the tubes are only in the output stage of the CDP, does the mute still wear the tubes?

Muting is just that, AFAIK. It just disconnects the output (or input, on my Joule amp) jacks from the signal chain. Anything else is still live. But for final answer, check with manufacturer. Some tube gear has a standby position which keeps the tubes heated but no high voltage. That actually preserves tube life by preventing shock of sudden start up.