The trans dilemma

Apologies if there are old threads about this that I haven't found.. I'm looking for advice on transformers. Price range is almost absurd, but is it really a case of getting what you pay for? Are there there some relatively affordable brands/ types that hold up well?

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Specifically I've used allenson electronic self-adjusting trans for a couple years now, but sometimes they'll quit after a while: not because the transformer died, but because the safety shut-off kicks in. Can't find any secondary faults, worked for the past year, then suddenly decides not to run that load anymore. In two places now, I've swapped them with old used magnetic ones and it worked. (not ancient; they still have a safety shut off)

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Definitely don't want to skimp on the safety, but those alansons seem to be really oversensitive sometimes.