[ru4music]

I have a question relating to this topic.

Does a member know what we should be looking for or listening for when a tube or tubes are reaching their end life???

I don't know.

Do they just end up sounding worse? Lose power? Or just stop or blow up? Is there some signs?

I guess we just roll tubes to find out which tube or set of tubes are worn out as well.

An EOL tube (i.e. one that doesn't succumb to premature failure) will have lower MU conductance and won't amplify as much (e.g. less gain).  However, it's been said that an audio vacuum tube sounds its best just before it dies.  Measurements from a tube tester is probably the best way!

 

[3083joe]

I have a question relating to this topic.

Does a member know what we should be looking for or listening for when a tube or tubes are reaching their end life???

I don't know.

Do they just end up sounding worse? Lose power? Or just stop or blow up? Is there some signs?

I guess we just roll tubes to find out which tube or set of tubes are worn out as well.

+1
As I would like to know also.

 

[Stereolab42]

Am I still the only person on this thread with a mutual conductance tube tester? That's shameful considering there are plenty others with much bigger tube collections.

 

[Khragon]

I have a TV7 B/U, modified to read plate current similar to 539

 

[ru4music]

+1
As I would like to know also.

Guys, this is a very open/ subjective issue!  The response entirely depends on the failure type (definition), and an existing tube working within a  given design/ engineering architecture.
 
FWIW -"This question is bigger than a bread basket."
 
Please enjoy the music, you'll know when it's time for a new tube... seriously... I hope. lol

 

[a1uc]

Ordered (4) Jupiter caps today for the WA22 , hope to swap them out next week 

 

[ru4music]

  Am I still the only person on this thread with a mutual conductance tube tester? That's shameful considering there are plenty others with much bigger tube collections.

Yes!  I have a Hickok 6000 tube tester and that keeps things honest for me.  Bur many threaders here need to rely on the seller which (unfortunately the case) is not always the best solution.

 

[MIKELAP]

I have a question relating to this topic.

Does a member know what we should be looking for or listening for when a tube or tubes are reaching their end life???

I don't know.

Do they just end up sounding worse? Lose power? Or just stop or blow up? Is there some signs?

I guess we just roll tubes to find out which tube or set of tubes are worn out as well.

I was using a Sophia Princess 274b it started making noise and also it was glowing very bright alot more than the newer tube i have also i had to turn up the volume more so i figured its was  probably going so back it went in the tube caddy ,cant throw art away lol.                                

 

[isquirrel]

  Am I still the only person on this thread with a mutual conductance tube tester? That's shameful considering there are plenty others with much bigger tube collections.

 
 
Consider me shamed   

 

[ru4music]

 
I was using a Sophia Princess 274b it started making noise and also it was glowing very bright alot more than the newer tube i have also i had to turn up the volume more so i figured its was  probably going so back it went in the tube caddy ,cant throw art aw

Making noise and glowing more brightly (for a rectifier, or any tube) is not a good sign.  At the very least,  It means the tube or amplifier is driven to an out-of-spec scenario.  If you replace tubes and that situation goes away, then likely you have a bad tube and/ or a tube that is being operated outside it's design spec.
 
My 2Cents!  YMMV (but I doubt it!)

 

[3083joe]

Consider me shamed   

Me too......

 

[ru4music]

   
 
Consider me shamed   

You Sir are shamed!  Hope that makes you feel better.

 

[ru4music]

  Ordered (4) Jupiter caps today for the WA22 , hope to swap them out next week 

I would think they should present an perceivable improvement once broken-in.

 

[ru4music]

Me too......

No one should be shamed; but you honestly may want to consider a tube tester going forward.  Then again, maybe not, as you may need to dive deeper into electronic/ electrical engineering.  Sometimes ignorance is bliss, trust your ears as they are the ultimate deciding factor.

 

[isquirrel]

 
You Sir are shamed!  Hope that makes you feel better.

Being English it makes me feel feel quite naughty actually