Quote:
Originally Posted by Magnavox300
I have read that tubes rarely go bad, but I was wondering if they get worn?
Do new tubes work better? Or when they go bad, are they simply done-
Magnavox300
|
I must ask where you would have read that information on electron tubes! They most certainly do go bad and I guess you could call it worn. A new tube would certainly do better than a bad one as the bad tube is going to cause whatever circuit that it is being used in to not work properly, if at all. One big reason for the general demise of the electron tube in consumer electronics was the necessity of replacement occasionally which back in time was a normal part of owning a radio or television; hence the TV repairman who often did house calls for a reasonable fee. As time went on tube testers were placed in retail outlets like drug stores, dime stores, and later Radio Shack for do it yourself customers. Normally there was a good stock of new tubes in the shelf space below under lock and key. The invention of the transistor and thus "solid state" radio and TV more or less sealed the fate of the tube as a main stream electronic component as solid state equipment consumes less power and transistors generally don't wear out, at least not in the same way as the tube. Most people think that the tube is completely obsolete, but that is far from true. Today the best high end home audio equipment and music instrument amplifiers are tube driven. Hands down, there are just some things that a tube can accomplish that a nasty little transistor can't!
