tube rolling for noobs

You're going to want to keep them matched.

Use matched tubes, but don't go overboard buying a bunch of tubes to try out. If you have tubes that sound good, just use them. Yes, slightly different sounds will come out, but I've never seen much use for endless swapping. If something sounds good, I run it until it dies. I'd rather use my free time to enjoy music than try to detect differences.

Keep in mind that tubes are a moving target. What sounds good now will change in 500 hours. Sometimes less. So enjoy what you have and don't worry too much about it.

I agree with Erik's advice. I own a Lyr too and the tube rolling could have been spent on other needs and not wants.

How long do tubes last? If you don't push too much power through them, shouldn't they pretty much last forever? I've never had to replace tubes in my guitar amp for example. Are headphone amp tubes similar in that regard?

The Lyr is a hybrid amp. It uses 6922/6DJ8 for gain but for output it uses either transistors or opamps.

 

Your guitar amp can be using 6550, KT88, whatever output tubes. Depending on the bias and tubes, they can last between 2000 to 5000 hours, maybe more.

So you're saying headphone amp tubes most certainly don't have that kind of longevity? That's sort of a shame...guitar amp tubes seem to last practically a decade (never kept one longer, but I've never killed one)!

Guitar tubes may last less... it's just a matter of how you "saturate" them. If running above specs for that "special" sound they will die, eventually, sooner than expected.

 

Also keep in mind that output tubes tend to last less then input/driver tubes. Some NOS tubes, and specially the military versions, were specked good for many thousands of hours, sometimes 100,000 hours. This is by reading only, as I have no actual experience with tubes lasting nowhere near that simply because I replace them. I've used tubes for over 20 years and never had one dying on me unless they were abused.

 

Tube rolling is fun but it can be costly. If it sounds good stick to it. If you have the time and cash to play with experiments, by all means go for it - beats cable rolling for sure.

Yes, I was referring to their longevity if used within specifications. You've never had a headphone tube start to die? That's heartening to hear!

Correct. I roll a lot of tubes so they never really expire.

As for the matched thing... in the old days no one even ever heard about matching tubes. You just went out and replaced the one that went bad. Many people did this and their now vintage gear is still around. Maybe the sound changes a bit? Well... listen for yourself.