I've had a lot of tube and solid state amplifiers in my systems, and have been fairly lucky on both counts. Still, the tube amplifiers, apart from loudspeakers, have proven to be the most reliable components I've encountered.
Tired of Problems with Tube Equipment
I switched over to tube audio equipment in some form some years back, and have certainly enjoyed music played back through them. I have had amps, preamps, and DACS at different times utilizing tubes. One unfortunate thing that's been common to all the tube equipment I've had are problems. It doesn't seem to matter whether the manufacturer is large or small, built in the USA or overseas, they all have had problems. Capacitors blowing out, bad solder joints, tubes only lasting a short time, loud pops that mysteriously go away on their own, etc. Although I have enjoyed the sound (and that beautiful glow!), I am starting to get tired of this and thinking of going back to solid state.
Have any of you also gone back (or thought about it) to solid state for this reason? What has your experience been with the reliability of tube equipment?
Have any of you also gone back (or thought about it) to solid state for this reason? What has your experience been with the reliability of tube equipment?