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General Asylum General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories. |
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General Asylum General audio topics that don't fit into specific categories. |
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In Reply to: Powering a tube amp without speakers posted by Byrd69 on November 4, 2017 at 16:08:07:
I used to own (heavily modify) tube amps, as well as work in a repair shop for years. I've never had any problem with a powering a tube amp without a load and no signal. As posters noted, it is possible that:
a) A design is so bad that it may be unstable and oscillate with no load. I have never seen this happen.
b) That with no load the transformer would "kick back" as the output stage left class A and one tube turned off (much like the ignition coil in a car that fires your spark plugs) and induce high voltages at the plates. I've never seen this although the poster did and even had arcing across the pins of the tube socket - with no damage to anything.
Bottom line is that I wouldn't worry about it with no input signal, but would avoid driving the amp with large input signals and no load. Most tube amps have enough bias to put out several watts while remaining in class A operation.
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Follow Ups
- RE: Powering a tube amp without speakers - Charles Hansen 11/4/1717:53:56 11/4/17 (0)
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