Tube Basics - PrimaLuna EvoLution Series Manual

Tube Basics
The 12AX7 and 12AU7 tubes will have a life of about 5,000 to 10,000 hours. However, the life span of
power tubes is more difficult to predict. It greatly depends on how "gently" or "roughly" you use your
amplifier. In general, under normal conditions, you can figure between 2,000 and 3,000 hours.
Here are some guidelines on using tubes:
• Do not use treatments on tube pins or in sockets.
• If you decide to experiment with other tube types, it's best not to swap tubes in and out repeatedly.
To do so requires you to turn your amplifier off and on and you never want to cycle amplifiers on and
off rapidly. They should be left off for at least five minutes. Further, every time you insert a tube, you
stand a chance of loosening the tube sockets. It's okay to have fun, and we support that, but don't go
crazy and swap tubes in and out twenty times a day.
• Do not leave the amplifier on 24 hours a day. Just a short warm-­up is required for the PrimaLuna to
get into its groove.
• Break-­in yields improvements. Every tube, when new, needs to be left alone for a little while. So,
when your amplifier is new, or when you re-­tube it, allow a little time to settle in. There is, however,
no fixed "time rule" for break-­in.
• Tubes can vary electrically, and by plugging in the wrong type of tube you can damage the amplifier
and void your warranty.
• Please note to use same type or equivalent tubes for a replacement!
EvoLution Series
Some tubes and tube sockets have a "center key" which must
line up! If you misalign them and use brute force, you will
damage important and expensive parts of your amplifier!!
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