This info is from an old post .... this will help.
With all the new tube amp owners sprouting up I thought a basic setup guide would help.
After you remove the amp from the shipping container set the amp on a level and well ventilated rack, shelf or table.
Next .... the first thing you want to do is put the tubes in the amps tube sockets. There are all types of tube bases and corresponding tube sockets. I am only going to cover 9 pin and octal sockets to prevent confusion and to keep this guide basic.
To install the tube you need to determine which tube goes with which socket. Small signal tubes usually have 9 pin minature sockets. These tubes dont really have a base just pins exiting the bottom of the tube. With 9 pin tubes there is a break in the pins .... or opening. The tube socket itself also has this break and you simply line up the holes of the socket with the pins of the tube.
For octal sockets you have whats called a pin guide. There is a small ridge in the large center plastic pin on the octal tube base.
The octal socket has a cutout that shows you exactly where this pin guide goes. Notice the slight cutout in the center of the rightmost socket in the pic below (sorry about the glare). The ridge of the pin guide is aligned with this cutout and once you place the tube correctly in the socket the tube will drop partway into the socket. Then you use both hands and firmly press the tube until the tube base is flush with the tube socket. If you dont have the tube all the way down hum will likely occur. Bend down and look at the tube socket straight on and make sure the socket is all the way down .... and save yourself the potential trouble.
Now you have the amp well placed and the tubes in the amp.
Next you want to connect your IC's. Make sure you have L/R correct and that the rca or balanced connection is fully inserted both at the source and the amp ends.
At this point I plug in whatever headphones I plan to use. This isnt something to obcess about .... but your tubes will last longer if you keep a load connected whenever the amp is on. Without a load present, for an extended time, you can get what they call "cathode stripping" .... which can drastically shorten the life of your tubes.
The final step is to connect the power cord.
Always connect the power cord last! Why? Sometimes amps get sent with the power switch turned on. If this is the case and you plug the power cord in the amp without tubes in the sockets you can damage the amp. I have trained myself to never plug in the power cord until the final step .... and you would be wise to do so too.
Now the amp is setup and you are ready to listen.
Turn on the amp and let the amp idle for a minute or so. Then put on your headphones with no signal. Just listen for noise, hum or crackling type sounds. If you hear any of these you could have a bad tube, ground loop or an amp problem. If you do get some type of noise, turn the amp off temporarily, until you can consult with the builder or a knowledgeable person who can trouble shoot with you. If the sound is quiet and noise free turn on some music. The music should be free of distortion and hopefully good sounding. If you hear any distortion, level changes, intermittant pops ar cracks shut down the amp .... and again consult your builder, seller or a knowledgeable person who can guide you.
Assuming everything is ok .... I shut off the music and just let the amp idle for 30 minutes or so to let things settle in .... monitoring with no signal every ten minutes or so. If the amp continues to work fine I am satisfied everyting is ok and I start listening.
