Best temperature for optimum tube performance


Is there an optimum temperature range in which tubes perform best?
I've been running tube amps/preamps for over 40 years and have always placed a small, quiet fan in front of them to prevent excessive heat build-up (a modified, two-door antique silver cabinet is where they reside).
I'm aware that electrical resistance increases in proportion to increasing temperature, but am I somehow decreasing the optimum performance of my tube components with this strategy?
128x128rettrussell

Showing 1 response by russ69

No idea really but tube amps are shedding considerable heat. I think that  in the vacuum atmosphere of a vacuum tube normal room temperatures don't affect the tubes operation all that much if any. Your fan set-up will cool the chassis and components but one can't guess how uniform or effective that will be. I make sure all my tube equipment is not enclosed in any cabinet, just too much heat for electronic components.