How much listening do you do?

[the_young_once]

Just a random question as I gather that valves have a finite lifespan, especially the power valves, which (according to online resources at least) last an average of 2 years if the amp sees daily use?

I only recently got a valve amp, was on transistors for years, but I worry my usage habit would see me having to replace my valves in a hurry, goes like this:
I am home usually early evening onwards everyday, and the amp is turned on for a good 5 hours/day (say, 8pm to 1.30am) though at least 75% of that time I just use it for background music in the room while I work, only about 1.5hours of "serious" listening;

When I had transistors (Arcam Alpha integrated), I would leave the rig on 24/7 up to weeks on end! just cranking up/down the volume as I need to, though now I am more conservative with the 'on' time of my amp, there is still a nagging feeling that the valves are going to go sooner than I'd like?

So just wondering how much do you guys listen on average, and correspondingly, how long do the valves last?


Worried I am wasting valve life with my background Muzak style listening, up to 5-6 hours everyday;

 

[the_young_once]

I did consider getting a lower-end integrated transistor for the Muzak duties but figured it's just daft, why spend the extra money and surely compromise on the sound that I've come to love from my main kit? Better to save up the $$ for what I expect to be frequent valve replacements?

Just wondering if anyone here also uses their gear the way I do: on for the most part just in the background

 

[robM]

why listen to muzak anyway?

 

[DavidF]

I did consider getting a lower-end integrated transistor for the Muzak duties but figured it's just daft, why spend the extra money and surely compromise on the sound that I've come to love from my main kit? Better to save up the $$ for what I expect to be frequent valve replacements?

Just wondering if anyone here also uses their gear the way I do: on for the most part just in the background

No defo not back ground.

I listen just occassionally when I fancy listening to something. Like you I have an eye on my "valve hour meter" and the next 40/50 pound bill for a new set.

That said you have to balance that against the warm up time they need to sound good.

 

[Corruption]

The poll doesn't take into account where I am listening and at what level.

My daily commute to and from work I listen to my MP3 player (NOT an iPOD...) and I listen to music for most of my 7 1/4 hour working day via my PC (either MP3s, CDs or via Spotify/last.fm)

I try to listen for an hour or two to my main hi-fi system at home but this depends on free time and socialising....

So in all I probably listen to my hi-fi for ~10 hours Mon-Fri plus a few more hours at weekends, but listening to music is pretty much 24/7, or as much as I can fit in

 

[the_young_once]

Corruption, I stand corrected, can't live without music, I was meaning how hours do we pile on our main sets at home

David, yea spot on, that's what I mean, this is just so inconveniencing, i'm clocking up mileage quick, and yes the initial warm-up, i give it about 15min (with no music) but things really start to open up and sound better as time passes :MILD:

RobM, well it's just a habit, otherwise the room is so quiet, I usually leave it on FM radio, tuned to my local classical station, you know just in the background while working on other things;

 

[bottleneck]

Just a random question as I gather that valves have a finite lifespan, especially the power valves, which (according to online resources at least) last an average of 2 years if the amp sees daily use?

I only recently got a valve amp, was on transistors for years, but I worry my usage habit would see me having to replace my valves in a hurry, goes like this:
I am home usually early evening onwards everyday, and the amp is turned on for a good 5 hours/day (say, 8pm to 1.30am) though at least 75% of that time I just use it for background music in the room while I work, only about 1.5hours of "serious" listening;

When I had transistors (Arcam Alpha integrated), I would leave the rig on 24/7 up to weeks on end! just cranking up/down the volume as I need to, though now I am more conservative with the 'on' time of my amp, there is still a nagging feeling that the valves are going to go sooner than I'd like?

So just wondering how much do you guys listen on average, and correspondingly, how long do the valves last?


Worried I am wasting valve life with my background Muzak style listening, up to 5-6 hours everyday;

Hi

That is exactly the case. The valves wear out - much like light bulbs. The power tubes go first.

As to how long they last, that depends on the tube in question and the amplifier.

If you want a rule of thumb, if you have EL34, EL84, KT88, 6550, 2a3 or 300b tubes you should hope for the best part of two years yes.

Similar usage, 211, 805, 845 double that - due to the strength of these transmitter tubes.

There are exceptions (like the Berning amp) which have an unusual circuit and have unexpected valve life.



I'm putting together a prototype new amp and have chosen the EL84. Appart from sounding great (one of my favourites) they are only £6-£8 a pop. You can change your power tubes in my new amp for about £24 ! On my 300B amp, this is a bi-annual expense of £200. That is quite a difference for most families.

A brace of EL34 , 6550 or KT88's are £120-£150 ish

it's all a bit 'ow' these days.

15 years ago, I used to get mullard valves for just over a fiver..

 

[mick parry]

Chaps

I work from home in front of a pc. I have my stuff playing nearly all of the time.

Regards

Mick

 

[the_young_once]

Hi

That is exactly the case. The valves wear out - much like light bulbs. The power tubes go first.

As to how long they last, that depends on the tube in question and the amplifier.

If you want a rule of thumb, if you have EL34, EL84, KT88, 6550, 2a3 or 300b tubes you should hope for the best part of two years yes.

Similar usage, 211, 805, 845 double that - due to the strength of these transmitter tubes.

There are exceptions (like the Berning amp) which have an unusual circuit and have unexpected valve life.



I'm putting together a prototype new amp and have chosen the EL84. Appart from sounding great (one of my favourites) they are only £6-£8 a pop. You can change your power tubes in my new amp for about £24 ! On my 300B amp, this is a bi-annual expense of £200. That is quite a difference for most families.

A brace of EL34 , 6550 or KT88's are £120-£150 ish

it's all a bit 'ow' these days.

15 years ago, I used to get mullard valves for just over a fiver..

Bottleneck, yea that's the fuss, I'm using 4x EL34 for power, on and Onix amp, and a myriad of others 12AT7, AX7, 6922, pardon me lack of knowledge, all I know is some of them are the pre-amp stage valves and some have other functions? Rectifier, follower--I don't know but yes if anything the EL34's would be the first to need replacing!

Good on you, DIY, I not ventured into that, not just yet; oh is it that the 845's can hold out that long? Ok I cannot make a sweeping statement because I only heard ONE 845 system before but in my opinion, I didn't like it

Anyways good consideration when building an amp, sound quality first, closely followed by hidden/running costs!

and Mick, that's the man, that's the ideal

 

[la toilette]

I think if I was worried about valve life so much that it even made me consider not having the amp on, then I'd switch back to SS.

 

[the_young_once]

la toilette, yes, agreed! No doubt if for pure serious listening, I wouldn't care about this issue because the time spent is well worth it, you know, brings to mind an analogy of buying a huge nice car but worrying about the fuel economy so much that the car can't be enjoyed for what it is;

Anyway mates, solved my problem (why didn't I think of this earlier), hooked up an old SS with cheap speakers to use for my background working music, the valves only serve for real listening;


Cheers,
Kenny

 

[la toilette]

Sorted :Quad:

 

[DavidF]

I think if I was worried about valve life so much that it even made me consider not having the amp on, then I'd switch back to SS.

No, its no problem.

I treat music as something to be savoured , so an hour or two every so often siuts both ideals.

I work in a noisy factory environment and so appreciate peace and quiet these days.

 

[DavidF]

I posted under the wrong one.

I should ahve voted for under 5 hours a week which should be two now.

 

[Samantha]

I'm in the under 5 hours a week. If in the office at home, I have a small DAB radio for background. The main system is used when I want to sit and listen, not background. Cripes, it would be far too distracting anyway, I couldn't concentrate on work if the music was too good!

 

[johnfromnorwich]

I think if I was worried about valve life so much that it even made me consider not having the amp on, then I'd switch back to SS.

+1

Compared to what I'll have spent on music over the same period, replacing 4 tubes every 2 years seems a fairly minor issue really. Cheaper then replacing (or even retipping?) a cartridge that gets the same amount of stick.