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Thread: Tube dampers ?

  1. #1
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    Tube dampers ?

    Does anybody use thes on tube amplifiers? I have seen these but do not know much about them.
    Does anyone have any opinions good or bad ?
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    Re: Tube dampers ?

    Great question!!! I was thinking about the exact same thing a few days ago after I traded for an Audio Research VSi60 that hadnsome dampers on the pre tubes.

    I've played around with dampers several different times, and I just can't seem to tell if they make a difference or not.
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    Re: Tube dampers ?

    I tried a pair on the 6V6 tubes in my BAT VK-3i preamp and to my ear, they altered the sound and not in a positive way. Seemed like it closed every thing in. Lost the open, airy sound. Took them off and it opened back up. The tubes were not microphonic so I didn't really need them. I heard a system once that consisted of great gear but every thing that could have a damping device added to it did. It sounded lifeless. I think sometimes we over do it.

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    Re: Tube dampers ?

    High heat silicone o-rings are a cheap and easy way to experiment.
    McMaster-Carr has hundreds of sizes. I buy the square red silicone ones as I like the look. Fast shipping.
    https://www.mcmaster.com/#o-rings/=17b7jfe
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  5. #5
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    Re: Tube dampers ?

    i use Herbies on my recti and DHT. They help with microphonics of certain tubes.
    NORMAN
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    Re: Tube dampers ?

    I've used the red silicone rings, and felt they deadened the sound. Then I switched to Herbies and am very satisfied - you get what you pay for.

  7. #7
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    Re: Tube dampers ?

    So far, most all dampers that I've tried did the job - only too well.

    Sound seemed to lose life & energy.

    IMO..
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  8. #8
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    Re: Tube dampers ?

    Jim.......I agree. Recently I purchased four high-temp silicon o-rings from McMaster-Carr in the size that would be snug on my 12AT7 (Siemens ECC801S) driver tubes in a pair of McIntosh MC2301 tube power amps. I have been curious about tube dampers for years and decided to give them a whirl. Each MC2301 has two 12AT7's, one per channel. I tried positioning the dampers toward the bottom of the tubes, in the middle of the tubes, and near the top of the tubes. No matter where the dampers were positioned I experienced a slight reduction of upper mid-range clarity, slightly less air around voices and instruments. I spent a day with the dampers in each position before removing them and rediscovering the midrange air and energy that seemingly had been "damped". The o-rings now sit in my desk drawer and my curiosity has been satisfied.
    Dan

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  9. #9
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    Re: Tube dampers ?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jim Smith View Post
    So far, most all dampers that I've tried did the job - only too well.

    Sound seemed to lose life & energy.

    IMO..


    Well bottle vibration ( microphonics) is part of the toob lure , clamping down into the socket is best IMO ...

  10. #10
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    Re: Tube dampers ?

    Not for DHTs.
    NORMAN
    Custom PC with Memory Player Software Suite/ Modded Denon CD transport>Lampi GG1 (and sometimes PACIFIC) DHT tube Dac> Rowen 850W Isolating Transformer/ Rowen SS Preamp and PA1 monoblocs/Lampi Silk power cond. with Phase flipper> Heil AMT KITHARA & Syrinx in parallel hookup. Swiss cables (Reference line) for PC/interconnects and speaker cables. Goldmund Sweetcord PC. FTA Callisto unpowered USB cable. Basic analog: vintage Lenco L78 TT with Rowen mat, Denon MM cart, iFi iPhono2 with 15v Hynes SR3 LPSU. Synology 12 TB NAS. 2nd system:KenWin Bluetooth speaker 3rd system TBI Millemnium amp with Aulos speakers and SB Duo hookup.

  11. #11
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    Re: Tube dampers ?

    just goes to show we love the euphoric distortion of tube gear !
    Cheers ! …. Dave

  12. #12
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    Re: Tube dampers ?

    There are only two Philips PCC88's in my CJ GAT2, but the UK importer/distributor recommends listening without the supplied damping rings in situ.

    It's subtle, but I agree with his advice!

  13. #13

    Re: Tube dampers ?

    I used some Herbie's on my KT-88 tubes, couldn't tell much difference. I probably ought to try some on the 6922's.

  14. #14
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    Re: Tube dampers ?

    I also use the Herbie’s on all tubes of my Quicksilver full function preamp. Even the rectifier 6x4’s. My first impression was that they quieted down the preamp slightly. But to be honest, I could not say they provided any real improvement. Hey, they don’t degrade either. Like many tweaks, I gave them a try. They were cheap enough. I keep them in the preamp nonetheless. My Bedini CD demagnetizer is collecting dust in some nebulous draw though.
    == Joe ==

  15. #15

    Re: Tube dampers ?

    Last night and again this afternoon, I tried Herbie’s RX-50 dampers around the thick parts of a pair of Philips 5R4GYS rectis in a PrimaLuna Dialogue preamp. I found they lowered the pitch not for the better and generally sucked the life out of the music. Tapping on those tubes, I heard “dead” glass, no ringing or microphonics.
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  16. #16
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    Re: Tube dampers ?

    Any thoughts on Pearl Tube Coolers?

    I'm using them in my Sonic Frontiers Line 1. I can't say yet whether they have any effect on the sound. Pearl sells them mainly on that they cool the tubes and/or disperse the heat over more of the tube service, supposedly lengthening the life of the tube. I can't comment on that either, but I suspect any positive effect would be greater for power tubes than for low current tubes.

    However I suspect it's valid to say the mass of the Pearl Coolers is sufficient to make them decent dampers too.
    ~ Bill

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  17. #17
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    Re: Tube dampers ?

    Quote Originally Posted by jdandy View Post
    Jim.......I agree. Recently I purchased four high-temp silicon o-rings from McMaster-Carr in the size that would be snug on my 12AT7 (Siemens ECC801S) driver tubes in a pair of McIntosh MC2301 tube power amps. I have been curious about tube dampers for years and decided to give them a whirl. Each MC2301 has two 12AT7's, one per channel. I tried positioning the dampers toward the bottom of the tubes, in the middle of the tubes, and near the top of the tubes. No matter where the dampers were positioned I experienced a slight reduction of upper mid-range clarity, slightly less air around voices and instruments. I spent a day with the dampers in each position before removing them and rediscovering the midrange air and energy that seemingly had been "damped". The o-rings now sit in my desk drawer and my curiosity has been satisfied.
    What am I hearing here? Is it that the pleasant spatial ambience or "holographic" effect from tubes is, indeed, caused by microphonics -- as some critics have insisted over the years?
    ~ Bill

    Win10/Foobar2000 => Topping D90 DAC => Sonic Frontiers Line 1 SE+ preamp => VTV Purifi 1ET400A stereo amp with Sparkos SS3602 op amps => Zaph Audio ZRT speakers (DIY) + PSB Subsonic 5 subwoofer

  18. #18

    Re: Tube dampers ?

    Quote Originally Posted by Feanor View Post
    Any thoughts on Pearl Tube Coolers?

    I'm using them in my Sonic Frontiers Line 1. I can't say yet whether they have any effect on the sound. Pearl sells them mainly on that they cool the tubes and/or disperse the heat over more of the tube service, supposedly lengthening the life of the tube. I can't comment on that either, but I suspect any positive effect would be greater for power tubes than for low current tubes.

    However I suspect it's valid to say the mass of the Pearl Coolers is sufficient to make them decent dampers too.
    I call those things tube roasters. They don't have enough contact area to allow heat dissipation, and enclosing the tube in a sleeve doesn't allow proper air flow.
    Dan Santoni

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  19. #19

    Re: Tube dampers ?

    The only tube dampers I've actually heard work are these:
    www.thetubestore.com - Duende Criatura Tube Rings
    I find the Herbies nothing more than eye candy for tubes.
    The problem is that once a tube starts to become audibly microphonic pretty much nothing you can do will stop it.
    And it will progressively get worse.
    Dan Santoni

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  20. #20
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    Re: Tube dampers ?

    I think it is system-dependent, I never liked them, but they may work on an overly "bloomy" system.

  21. #21
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    Re: Tube dampers ?

    I personally like the Herbies titanium HALO-IIIs. It would be hard to see how they would overdamp based on their construction, and sounded like an improvement to me v. nothing, or the silicone varieties.

    ARC uses the silicone rings on their small signal tubes in their Reference equipment. I'm sure they listened to how they impacted the sound. As always YMMV.

  22. #22

    Re: Tube dampers ?

    I had a set of Ensemble tube Sox on a Jadis Pre--the damn things melted and were a bugger to get off without leaving skid marks on the Tubes.

    I personally would not put dampers on any expensive tube--think if it burnt and left a singed rubber or similar product rings around your precious tube --

    and it would not completely come off?--

    Time comes to sell--um well

    I'd give them a miss myself

    YVMV

    Bruce

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Tube dampers ?

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