How long will tubes last in my VTA ST70.
2 posters
tube life in VTA ST70
jim151- Posts : 7
Join date : 2009-12-20
Bob Latino- Admin
- Posts : 3277
Join date : 2008-11-26
Location : Massachusetts
jim151 wrote:How long will tubes last in my VTA ST70.
Jim,
The driver tubes should last 5000 hours
The output tubes should last 2000 - 3000 hours
The rectifier tubes maybe 1000 - 2000 hours
In any ST-70 the rectifier tube takes the most abuse as it looks at 360 volts AC on pins 4 and 6 and maybe 430 VDC on pins 2 and 8. It is the tube most likely to fail. It is always good to have an extra rectifier tube handy to keep the music flowing. The rectifier tubes made today are just not as durable as those made in the 1950's and 1960's in the USA, Great Britain and Germany. Of the newer GZ34 rectifier tubes (JJ, Sovtek and Ruby), I have found the Ruby to be the longest lasting.
Bob