I believe many folks are afraid to move to tube amps due to their percieved danger, reliability, concern over DIY biasing and the belief that tubes will introduce hum into one's system. Let's examine these concerns.

Yes there is lethal voltage in tube amps but unless you're going inside the case it's not a problem. On many newer models biasing, if required at all, is accomplished with top adjustment screws. If you're using matched tubes you may never need to change the bias. You can not get shocked with changing tubes or the routine handing of a tube amp. Tube amps are more resistant to electrical storms and power surges as they don't have transistors to blow.

All my amps except for the Rotel/Martel from the 1960's are self biasing. Most single ended triodes amps are self biasing. Biasing is not rocket science and only requires a screw driver and $5
multi-meter. There are many tutorials online and a tube tech will check and adjust the bias for a small sum if you don't want to learn this simple process. .

I currently own six tube amps, two tube preamps and one tube phono preamp. I'd like to go on record as stating that I've never experienced audible tube hum with any of these. I certainly would if there was any as my HE speakers range from 93dbs to 98dbs. I've only had one mirophonic tube which I quickly replaced. With over 5 years of daily listening I've only had two tubes to blow ( one EL84 and one small signal tube ) and zero repairs.

I have also had many higher power push pull amps in my home for extended periods. These included a Primaluna Prologue, Fisher 500, HH Scott, HK Citation, and Dynaco ST70. These were all in various condition levels yet none gave any noticable hum.

I see so much interest from many on this forum with "rolling speaker cable and IC's" it would be startling for these same folks to hear the level of change and sound customization one can achieve with rolling tubes. Tube rolling and collecting is an audio hobby in itself. When I'm checking out flea market vinyl I'm also looking for that old ham radio guy's tube stash.

I've tried solid state preamps with tube amps, tube amps with solid state amps and tube preamps with tube amps but for me all tube is just better. Saying you'd rather have a solid state amp and tube preamp when increased power is not required is like saying you don't want too much of a good thing ( IMO ).

You can buy lots of tubes for the price of boutique IC's yet there's no comparison to the audible improvement good tubes offer vs IC's or speaker cables.

If you stay in this hobby long enough and aren't encumbered by hard to drive low efficiency speakers a tube amp is probably in your future. So don't fear it, look forward to it!