Hour Meter
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NOSValves
Super Member
Where did you get the idea 6550 have a 2000 hour life span? I been using a set of basic Chinese KT88's (a Similar tube to a 6550) in my shop for 1 1/2 years 12 to 16 hours a day usually 6 days a week sometimes 7. This easily equals 4500 hours and I bet in reality over 5000 hours with no signs of any life loss or problems what so ever in the amps or on the tube tester. Of coarse this depends on the amplifier how hard it runs the tubes, how well the tubes are biased or in the self biased design how well there matched.
If the amplifier is one that you have to biased when the bias seems to become unstable its time for a new set. Tubes should hold there bias fairly closely from month to month in a stable amplifier with good quality tubes.
Craig
If the amplifier is one that you have to biased when the bias seems to become unstable its time for a new set. Tubes should hold there bias fairly closely from month to month in a stable amplifier with good quality tubes.
Craig
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Well, Craig that is what Audio Research says about the 6550's per the manual. Maybe I should just chuck the manual?
Now I would ask you this though. I am not a techie so this bias setting
I know is important.
Would you know where i get can get some step by step info on how to bias an ARC VT100 MKIII. (no the #$^%^ manual doesn't help at all)
Now I would ask you this though. I am not a techie so this bias setting
I know is important.
Would you know where i get can get some step by step info on how to bias an ARC VT100 MKIII. (no the #$^%^ manual doesn't help at all)
NOSValves
Super Member
arc,
I really can't help you with this one much I'm not familar with the circuit of a ARC VT100 MKIII. I would bet the amp is fixed bias if there is no instructions for biasing the tubes. If you can get ahold of a schematic I would be happy to check it for you. Some manufacturer like to suggest earlier then usual tube replacement just to keep there amps safe by getting its customers to sell the tubes before they fail. With a fix bias amp its really not that bad of a idea really. When the amp is setup to be manually biased its pretty easy to spot a tube going bad before catastrophic failure mode. Some users feel its a pain. I personally would go crazy with a amp I couldn't bias I like to get up close and personal with my gear. Its probably some character flaw I have
Craig
I really can't help you with this one much I'm not familar with the circuit of a ARC VT100 MKIII. I would bet the amp is fixed bias if there is no instructions for biasing the tubes. If you can get ahold of a schematic I would be happy to check it for you. Some manufacturer like to suggest earlier then usual tube replacement just to keep there amps safe by getting its customers to sell the tubes before they fail. With a fix bias amp its really not that bad of a idea really. When the amp is setup to be manually biased its pretty easy to spot a tube going bad before catastrophic failure mode. Some users feel its a pain. I personally would go crazy with a amp I couldn't bias I like to get up close and personal with my gear. Its probably some character flaw I have
Craig
