MC2301's - Is there a downside?

[W9TR]

Since I visited this thread last I bought 2 more 2301’s and sold one of my original 2301’s so now I have three for L,C, R in my current Colorado setup. The KT-88 power tubes reliably last over 4000 hours, the 12AT7’s about half that. So very good tube life overall. Is that a downside?

Tom

[Chubba]

If I got that right only 2000 hrs for the 12at7. I thought they are supposed to be good for around 10000hrs.My nieghbour 'pigman' here has 2301's and I really enjoy listening to his system.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by Chubba

If I got that right only 2000 hrs for the 12at7. I thought they are supposed to be good for around 10,000hrs. My neighbor 'pigman' here has 2301's and I really enjoy listening to his system.

Wayne.......The McIntosh MC2301's are easy on the power tubes. They are not run hard like the power tubes in the Acoustic Research tube power amplifiers. Typically ARC Tube amps require new power tubes between 2,500 and 3,000 hours. It is not uncommon for the McIntosh MC2301 to see power tubes still running strong at 5,000 hours. I tested my MC2301's 16 KT88's at 2,500 hours about three months ago. All 16 still measured at approximately 75% of brand new KT88's. They are at 2,786 hours tonight and sounding wonderful. I expect they will continue to measure well at 5,000 hours. I know of another MC2301 owner who has over 8,000 hours on his KT88 power tubes and still going.

The small driver and phase inverting tubes on McIntosh amplifiers, providing they are quality tubes and not Chinese knockoffs, will usually deliver 8,000+ hours before values deteriorate. The premium grade 12AX7's and 12AT7's often last longer than 10,000 hours.

Lots of tube amplifier owners worry about tube life. Much of that anxiety could be put to rest if they owned a quality tube tester and performed annual checks on tube health. I suspect many good tubes are replaced long before it is necessary from assuming tubes have becoming weak based on time rather than testing. If you are committed to tube preamplifiers and power amplifiers, you should also own a decent tube tester.

[Chubba]

Thank you very much Dan for that info.My friend Aaron will be glad to here/see this.I use some tubes as well.No tube tester at home but we have The Tube Store close by and they have tested tubes for me when needed.Cheers

[RaceCarDriver]

So 5000+ hours on the MC2301, how many hours can you expect out of the tubes in a C1100?

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by RaceCarDriver

So 5000+ hours on the MC2301, how many hours can you expect out of the tubes in a C1100?

RaceCarDriver.......The 5,000 hours refered to in the MC2301 power amplifier is for the KT88 power tubes. The C1100 is a preamplifier that uses the small 12.6 volt preamplifier tubes. The typical lifespan of 12AX7, 12AT7 and 12AU7 tubes usually exceed 7,000 to 8,000 hours. Put another way, to achieve 7,500 hours of listening to your C1100 preamplifier you would have to play it 5.13 hours every single day for 4 years.

[RaceCarDriver]

Yea I knew the tubes were different in the pre, just wasn’t sure what someone could expect for life out of them while on the topic of tubes. Like you said with people being committed to tube pre and amps a tester should be used.

Thanks for the insight.

[leftside]

Well said Dan. I never worry about the tube lifespan.

[W9TR]

Dan - what brand of 12AT7’s are you using? I’m only getting 2000 to 3000 hours out of my Gold Lion re-issues in those slots. Only 2 per amp and not expensive, so not a problem- I’m just curious.
Tom

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by W9TR

Dan - what brand of 12AT7’s are you using? I’m only getting 2000 to 3000 hours out of my Gold Lion re-issues in those slots. Only 2 per amp and not expensive, so not a problem- I’m just curious.
Tom

Tom.......I am using Siemens ECC801S tubes in the 12AT7 sockets. Fabulous sounding driver tubes. I buy them from TubeMonger.
http://www.tubemonger.com/Siemens_19...eswe_p/236.htm

I don't know why your Gold Lion 12AT7 driver tubes are so short lived. I tested my Siemens ECC801S tubes recently with just over 2000 hours on them and they tested very close to the numbers I recorded when they were new. What are your MC2301's sounding like when you believe it's time for new 12AT7's? Are you testing your tubes in a reliable tube tester?