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Tube Amp - Output Power Fuse Protection

The question is why do some manufactures of tube amps ,not have protection for the output stage of the amplifiers?
I have been auditioning some tube integrated amps that did not have any kind of fuse protection for the output stage of the amplifier.

I was in front of one amp when an EL34 tube flashed and knocked out the left channel. It blew out an output resistor , which has to be replaced to restore the amp. A simple fuse in the plate circuit would have protected the amp and with a new fuse , restored service. Instead , one would have to take the amp to a local repair shop , or have it shipped if not local.

Is this a common practice of manufactures to not have protection? Is it worth purchasing an amp that does not offer protection?

As we all know , it can be fun not to use protection , but sooner , or later it will cost you! One way or the other!
timo62

Showing 1 response by timo62

timo62 OP
278 posts
 
Kevin , your comment below is exactly what I meant by my post. Thanks for your response.

" But regardless I think it's not reasonable to expect a customer to repair an amp by replacing a resistor if a tube fails, and that's in essence what we are talking about."

It just seems like an unnecessary risk and hassle to have to take with a tube amp with no protection.

I was curious what the general consensus was on this matter. If one really likes an amp without protection , do you purchase it and hope you never have a power tube fail that would take out your amp?

I ask this because I have only owned Conrad Johnson amps for the last 16 years , which have the output of the amp protected by fuses. I have been recently
auditioning amps from different manufactures and was really surprised that some choose not to protect the output stage of their amps.
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