Best way to break in a tube amp? With cheap tubes?

Tubes wear gradually wear out. Some call this break-in.

Use cheap tubes during break-in, and play music through the component for as many hours a day as you deem appropriate. The important element is playing music. Leaving it on without playing music will acccomplish little.

For a tube amp, the best place to use the cheapies would of course be the output tubes. In most (but not all) pre-amps, tube wear is not a big issue as like span is often 5-10000 hrs. If yours is known to be a tube eater, then I'd also go with the cheapies for the first 1-200 hrs.

If you don't listen to it in the first 100 - 200 hours and use cheap tubes- How will you be able to discern any changes in sonic character after the first 100 - 200 hours with premium tubes?

It seems to me you want to run it in regular listening configuration you plan to use and listen to it.

I know- a silly thought - listening to the equipment you buy rather than playing it an empty room for several hundred hours.

Just hook it up plug it in and enjoy the music; no fuss no hassle.

Thanks for the advice everybody. One more thing--
does anyone use tube dampers (vibration control devices
or coolers of any sort)? Thanks again.