I am just in the process on buying a flat, and as a result I am eyeing up a new living room TV (I will keep my BV6 as my bedroom TV). Budget doesn't allow a BV7, or a recent Avant so I've turned to a BV3 (plus I can get a 3-drawer cabinet for a good price). The going rate seems to be about a £1000 either for a new-ish 2003/4 model (with no extras) or a 2001/2 version with the DSS and STB-C (I would need at least the DSS).

I seem to have it in my head that a tube lasts about 8-10 years, so is it false economy to buy such a TV if when it goes (in only a couple of years) it will probably not be cost effective to get it repaired? or am I wrong in regards to the 8-10 years tube life estimation?

Ian 

Well, it's basically an Avant RF tube and chassis - and reliabilty of those is legendary!

I would guess the BV3 has a lifespan of 15-20 years myself - but someone on here is bound to know more than me.

Lee

Tubes have an expected life of about 30,000 hrs.  The best thing to do is to check the service counters for hours of use in video mode (I think it gives you the count in days so multiply by 24) and then make your decision from there.

My guess would be that the time that the tube starts to be troublesome, you will have no trouble in sourcing another at very sensible money ... so personally, I would not worry about that scenario.

Neil
 

The youngest of my three Beovisions is 15 years old, and all the tubes are doing fine!

 Simon