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THE SPEAKERS DISTORT AT HIGH FREQUENIES, FEMALES VOICES SOUND NASAL AT HIGH VOLUMES. ITS TIME TO CAHNGE THE 14 YEAR SPEAKERS THEY SIMPLY ARE NOT UP TO SNUFF COMPARED TO THE HIGH END CD PLAYER AND INTEGRATED.

I've had one minor problem with my Sonic Frontiers SFL-2 preamp---but it wasn't a tube problem, folks! A silicon rectifier broke down in the power supply. I changed it, and have never had any more problems with my SFL-2. I just would add that tubed gear is not at all less reliable than solid-state. I owned a ReVox G36 reel-to-reel machine, equipped with its original tubes (year 1964!), and all the specs---and, sure, the sound---were perfectly maintained. Maybe power tubes are a little less reliable, but if used (I mean in the design) in a proper way, you won't have big trouble. Main failure after many years is usually filter capacitors, both in solid-state or tubed gear. Very normal indeed, since these caps are generally of the same technology . . . So don't worry, and be happy in listening to music!

My system has been just about perfect in terms of reliability. And although I don't have vinyl capabilities, my system is all tube. The point should be made, though, that just because I haven't had any technical problems doesn't mean that I don't fuss with my system. NOS tubes are constantly getting switched in and out to get sound comparisons; cables are an obsession; etc., etc. So, yeah, it is reliable, but also, very very fussy!

Prior to becomming a "high-ender," I don't remember having any problems with my stereo gear. Since graduating to much higher-priced (and, I admit, much better-sounding equipment), my problems have been many. My CR-7 Nakamichi tape deck (about $1700) developed a problem after a few years that was solved only by having an authorized dealer re-solder the entire board. Later it developed another problem that two trips to the factory failed to fix. I have replaced it with a Philips CD recorder. My ARC LS-2 line stage developed a problem with the direct-normal switch, was returned to the factory, fixed, then developed the same problem again. I now use the unit without using the direct input, presumably to the detriment of the sound. The tweeters in my Mirage M-1s literally came unglued after a short time. They were replaced at no charge and have worked fine since. My Audio Alchemy DDE v3.0 went tits up, was returned to the factory, fixed, and returned to me shortly before the whole damn company folded. The general rule in the high end seems to be that the more you pay for it, the less reliable it is.

Aside from a Sunfire Cinema Grand amplifier that blew up right out of the box, I have had no problems w/my system.

If you take good care of the components you shouldn't have any problems. I use tube gear and for the past 6 year it performed flawless.

With the kind of money I've spend on my rig, there had better not be any problems!

Over the years I have had DIY and mid-level and high-end commercial equipment, which all fall into the "pretty reliable" category. For amplifiers it always seems to be the output protection circuitry, for Yamaha, GAS, Leach, and Tigers (Tigers used to blow the rectifier bridge as well). Tape players (ReVox and Sony) seem to have different problems; I could never understand why my ReVox A77 kept getting slimed with tape binder glue (I used Scotch 207, 206, and Sony SLH, all with the same effect), whereas the Sony (a portable 1/2-track) had mechanical problems with rewind. Speakers seem to be pretty robust: my early DIYs were easy to diagnose if I blew a driver, I had DQ-10s minus one driver and did not notice it for almost a month!, and my current ReQuests seem to be trouble-free. CD players are a little more high-tech. A Yamaha changer refused to be fixed unless I sprang for the whole pickup assembly, so I bought the Marantz unit, which ticks occasionally but not too often, and the single-play Adcom seems to perform very well. Anybody know some good repair books and test CDs for tweaking up the tracking on a CD player? All in all, probably my equipment is as reliable as my hearing; ever notice the difference when your eustachian tubes get blocked?

Serviceable for the most part. As I ventured into high-end separates, one preamp---an APT Holman phono stage---was always problematic ( I now use it as a line stage on a secondary system), and my Futterman OTL 4 visited the shop twice early on. Through a service note in The Absolute Sound I traveled to Croton on Hudson; the gentleman who performed that repair (his name is lost over time): your work lives on 12 years later. By the way, my dealer who sent the amp for repair contacted me about manufacturer problems and I drove up to the plant to save my amp from repossession. Thanks again for that call, Josh. Otherwise, my Krell preamp is still strong at 15 years, my Linn with mods is almost 20 and ready for an overhaul. Although I am in the middle of equipment upgrade, everything still works in acceptable fashion.

My amp and preamp are hybrids and even though small signal tubes are reliable compared to output tubes, they still require replacement. The price of "audiophile quality" tubes is getting a little out of hand. The only other problem I've had was a burnt resistor in the power supply of my amp. Of course it took out 2 tubes!

Never had a problem; but even if I did, isn't that part of the fun?

The only problems I've had I've been able to fix myself. I've fitted new valves. I've re-aligned voice coils. I've fitted a new bearing and springs to my Gyrodec. It doesn't matter too much if equipment goes wrong (my Gyrodec is ancient and second-hand) when a company like Michell Engineering will give you the personal help you need, like the removal of the old bearing and replacing it, or how to get the speed change to work on my brother's hydraulic reference.

During 15 years with "high-end" systems, I've had only one CD-player failure and one power-amplifier failure. That's not too bad, but in the last 25 years, no TV set I've owned has failed!

It doesn't seem that Theta can build a transport to last longer than a year. Bought transport sent back transport, received transport, errors still, sent back transport,received new transport, alittle time goes buy and you guessed it, errors again, sent back transport, pay $200 and receive working transport. At this point I try not to breathe to hard when changing CD's.

I have a "low-end" high-end system, nothing too exotic, and I am very pleased with it. It has been together for over 8 years with no problems. Meridian/Esoteric CD, Denon Carousel CD, NAD tuner, B&K amp/preamp, PSB Silver Stratus speakers.

I've never had anything malfunction in my system, but then I don't have anything especially cheap or esoteric. The Classé preamp that I have will probably still be working after I'm dead & buried---it's built like a tank!

None of the above! I have an audio/home theater system that cost about $12k, but I listen for the enjoyment of the music or movie rather than to critique the system. I think the high-end people need to "get a life." Why should one have to "strain" to listen to music?

Very reliable, with one minor tune-up. My Maggies require that I replace the ribbon in their tweeters every two to five years---a small price to pay for great sound. My tube preamp is as reliable as any solid-state unit.

My Audio Research equipment and my Thiel speakers have been very enduring treasures.

Ironically, my most expensive pieces of high-end gear ($7000 apiece) have had the most problems. I don't want to list the manufacturer, since they tried hard to take care of me. Nevertheless, I don't expect expensive high-end gear to be so unreliable. During this same time I also owned some inexpensive equipment that experienced no problems. Go figure.

surprisingly, my linn mimik cd player quit operating less than 6 months after purchasing it. they fixed it. oh well.

Although I have had no problems with current equipment, I did have a Hafler amp that had a gremlin. After having it completely rewired and all possible parts replaced, it was stolen. All the repairs never fixed the problem, and I hope the thief has as much frustration as I did.

The only problem I've encountered has been shorts in cheap interconnects.

I have used Audio Research equipment for years. I have had no problems with any of it, save for a burned-out tube I discovered months too late!

an unpleasent noise from pre amp all the time!!

no.

Problems: Proceed CDD operation, Nakamichi Dragon transport, RFI in LP playback (Ortofon/AQ PT-6/VPI HW-19 Jr/SF SFP-1), Thiel CS2 2 grilles disintegrated in 3 years. Love: Classé CA-200; workhorse w/good protection.

If it wasn't reliable it would be . . . garbage!

When treated with the proper respect, I find high-end equipment very reliable. The only problems and failures that I have encountered in this area resulted from user error (read: too many beers/decibels). Note that I trade in equipment roughly every five years for new.

I've thought I've had problems before but it's always turned out to be dust or bad connections.