ARC amps utilizing 6550's are notorious for going out with a nerve shattering mini explosion and smoke! An ARC tech told me it is the nature of the tube. Typically, there is a resistor adjacent to the failing tube that burns up, sometimes damaging the circuit board. Having experienced it several times, I have become wary of these amps. Makes me nervous and thus I have switched to SS power amps. Their preamps with small tubes are great without this tendency. On the other hand, Wolcott power amps based on EL34 tubes do not do this. When a tube fails, the amp keeps playing, and a an indicator tells you which tube needs replacing. Simply swap it out.
What happens when a tube amp fails?
I've been the very satisfied owner of a Yaqin MC-30L tube amplifier for the past few weeks and am wondering what to expect when a tube fails or something else fails? Is it going to just stop playing through one channel, start smoking, or start my house on fire?
Please give me some insight into the different types of failures and what the result is.
Thanks
Please give me some insight into the different types of failures and what the result is.
Thanks