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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
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Rhljazz, our home repairs cost substantially less than our car repairs by a fair margin.

$500 for a leaking toilet?

I've fixed all our leaking toilets myself. Replaced tanks, valves, and complete toilets. The cost of parts is shockingly low compared with a plumber's labor. Worth learning how to do it if one's penurious. Pretty simple, really. But, I completely understand that many people don't want to deal with it.
smeyers OP
181 posts
 
Well, I'm back in business after the last tube escapade. I suddenly had two separate problems: one tube in one channel wasn't measuring any bias voltage, and popping in the other channel. The was the reason that I started this post; two sudden problems which superseded the others I've had. Anyhow I was able to solve both problems without any major repair bills. The first problem was a wire that came off the bias measurement terminal which I resoldered. The second problem was a bad 6c33c power tube; luckily I had a replacement. So for the time being I'll continue tubing along!
joc3021
49 posts
 
Amen. I have also become somewhat anti-tube. Have owned a lot of tube gear. Negatives: They make a lot of heat, they start deteriorating the minute they're installed, they can be expensive to replace and it's a hassle.
The best solid state gear is so well engineered today, and it will perform consistently for years, I just don't think there's a strong argument for tubes anymore.
One man's experience and it is ultimately a matter of taste (like most things audio).
Julian
t_bone
1,182 posts
 
I have two tube power amps which have had no issues. Actually, on one amp out of a pair of VTL monoblocks, I have had a tube go (once in 7+yrs). My other amp is an EAR 859 which uses EL519 tubes (yes, out of TVs a few dozen years ago), and the tubes are robust (supposed to last 10,000 hours) and the amp doesn't overuse them. I have had more problems in my life with mass-produced solid state gear from large manufacturers than with tube gear.

I too, for one, want to try walking down the self-made route a little bit.
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
7,068 posts
 
Smeyers, FWIW, the 6C33 is a special case in the world of tube amplifiers. Unless the amplifier has custom sockets, the Russian or Chinese sockets that are commonly used are overheated during normal operation. The filament circuit is the part that overheats, and a wire coming off the socket is no surprise- the solder can get hot enough to melt if adequate cooling precautions are not taken.

In addition, expect that for any 6C33-based amplifier without custom sockets, that the sockets will have to be serviced and ultimately replaced on a regular schedule.

Normally in a tube amplifier there is an expectation in the marketplace that the sockets will last for at least 20-30 years. Amplifiers that use the 6C33 are simply not going to meet that expectation.
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