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Copyright © 2011 Cavalli Audio, LLC
Replacing Tubes
The Liquid Fire uses four 6922/6DJ8 tubes. Replacing tubes can be a fun part of the pastime!
Please be aware, however, that Cavalli Audio will not warranty products damaged by use of
tubes not supplied, tested, and approved by us.
To replace the tubes:
1.
Turn off the amp.
2.
Turn off the standby switch.
3.
Remove the power cord.
4.
Wait at least one hour for all the voltages inside the cabinet to discharge.
5.
Remove the top cover by first removing the six screws holding it in place.
6.
Slide the cover back about three inches, enough to clear the tubes.
7.
Remove the old tubes and insert the new ones. Make sure all tube pins are securely
seated in their proper socket receptacles.
8.
Replace the cover and power cord.
9.
Turn on the standby switch and power up the amp. New tubes need at least 100 hours
of operation before they begin to sound normal. Generally, new tubes will sound “thin”
and perhaps a bit strident for about 50 hours; relaxing and filling out from there. As
lower notes are achieved, added warmth and liquidity may be perceived, as well as
fullness and more open sound to your favorite music. Enjoy the transition!
Tube Matching
It is not necessary to closely match tubes in the Liquid Fire. That said, there are conditions
where the internal circuitry of the amp cannot compensate for tubes that are very widely
mismatched.
You can see if tubes are severely mismatched by looking at the two sets of LEDs just behind the
windows (not the two pairs farther back). These LEDs should be about the same brightness. If
they are noticeably different, then there is a wide mismatch between two of the triode
sections. If the tubes were labeled 1 through 4 going left to right, then try replacing or
swapping 1 and 3 until you get nearly the same brightness. If, after this step, you are still
encountering an imbalance, contact us at
.
