How reliable are tube testers?
Tube testers, depending on model and within limits, can give a general picture of certain characteristics, however, they are not the be all and end all. Quoting from the RCA Receiving Tube Manual, “The tube tester cannot be looked at as a final authority in determining whether or not a tube is satisfactory. An actual operating test in the application will give the best possible indication of a tube’s worth.” Even with five various testers including a Tektronix curve tracer on hand, Sonic Frontiers has always tested, matched, and burned in replacement tubes in the SFI or Anthem model that the tubes are destined for. 4. Do the tubes wear out more quickly if they are left in standby mode? In standby mode, only the filaments remain activated to keep the tubes heated. Tubes last longer if they are already hot before the main power supply is applied. The main power switch in a preamp, CD player, or DAC should be turned off when the equipment is not in use for more than one week. Power amps s
