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#31
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Perhaps it has to do with one's definition of "all the time........". With my amps that have required setting the bias (Conrad-Johnson & Cary) I've found that doing so after a new set of tubes is installed and checking again about 30-45min later will be good for at least 1000hr of listening. I'll check again at 1000hr and invariably find that I've wasted my time. Setting once and checking once or twice a year does not strike me as "all the time". With both ARC & McIntosh one does not need to do any bias adjustment, or, could you, as is all 'built-in' with their circuit design and has been that way for many, many years. As for "blowing up", I did have a SET amp at one time in which the power tube got so hot it cracked the tube envelope. But, that was with a Russian radar power tube that was only good for about 1000hr, at best. Nice sounding amp, but no better than those offered by any by ARC, McIntosh, C-J, Cary or several other of the well known amp manufacturers. The care & feeding of tube amps is no more complex (actually quite a bit less so) than listening to LPs on your TT/TA. Setting the bias might take 10min every 6mon. Much less effort then keeping your LPs & stylus clean.
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Glenn... Canton Reference 9 Clearaudio SM Pro Focal Bathys JLA 10" Dominion Kuzma Stabi S w/MC & MM Magnepan 1,7i McIntosh MA8950 & MR88 Oppo 203 Roon Nucleus Rose Hifi RS150B Shunyata Gemini-4 Sony ST-A6B, TA-F6B, ST-J75 & PS-X75 Sorane SA1.2 & TA-1L Stillpoints LP1v2 WW Pt, Au & Ag |
#32
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One of the reasons I became sold on the tube/SS combo is an audition I had some years ago at a store in Nashville (2008–2009 or thereabouts), where I spent part of a vacation.
I heard an all-tube combo, an all transistor combo, and a tube/SS combo. The best sound? The combo. The all-tube (MC275 amp and I forget the preamp) sounded too warm; the all-SS system was crisper, cleaner, more detail, but didn't do much for me. The 275 amp with a transistor preamp (C52, if memory serves) sounded just right. It sounded like music! All systems went through the same speakers, a set of B&Ws. That's when I begin to think the combo setup might be the best option. And here I am today.
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SOTA, Grado, SME, Van den Hul, Gingko turntable setup; Pioneer Elite LD, BDP; Sony OLED TV; Magnum Dynalab tuner, antenna; MIT S-video cable; Pangea HDMI cables; DVDO video processor; McIntosh SACD, preamp, power amps; Telefunken Black Diamond preamp tubes; Kimber IC; Transparent IC, PC, SC; Mirage speakers; PS Audio, Shunyata PC; Audio Additives RCA caps; Furman power conditioning; Sanus: racks |
#33
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Absolutely, as is commonly the case. It varies from one design to the next. However, from my experience: I had a audio buddy with a tube amp that did require a quick biasing each time... and / or he was anal about it. Also, a friend of mine bought a Rouge tube amp on my recommendation and a tube “blew up” taking out a few resistors... although it was under warranty (like two weeks old) the owner argued that wasn’t under warranty because a tube caused it. Rogue was new then, I am sure he got his act together now and would not challenge a customer today for this kind of issue. But I was really embarrassed having recommended it, then it ending poorly. None of this has ever happened to me with a solid state. It does’t matter if it is occasional or a minor thing... it is enough to have people shy away from a particular design. I have been very happy having, for instance, my Pass amp for nearly 20 years and not once having to do anything to it other than turn it off and on. I am absolutely sure I could have kept it for another 20 years and never have to change a tube or repair it. Solid state has a reputation for reliability and have always lived up to it in my experience, and tube amps have not.
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George Main: Aurender W20SE music streamer, ARC REF 9SE DAC / CD, Linn LP 12, Koetsu Rosewood SignCartrige, ARC REF 3 Phono Stage, ARC REF 6SE Preamp, ARC 160s amp, Sonus Faber Amati Traditional Speakers,Transparent Ultra IC & SC Library:Aurender N100, Ayre QB9 2020 DAC, Woo WA5-LE amp upgraded tubes, Focal Utopia HP, Sennheiser 800s HP, LCD HP. Last edited by George Prentice; 02-02-2021 at 08:16 PM. |
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