Vacuum Tube Tester

falconcry72
falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
edited October 2011 in Wanted (WTB) Classifieds
I'm just getting into tubed audio gear:smile:, and I'm looking for a reliable, accurate tube tester. Nothing crazy, probably just one of those suitcase lookin' jobs that shows a 1-100 or 1-120 emission scale or something like that.

Bonus if it can test each section of a multi-section tube individually.

Has to be able to test the 6dj8 family (6dj8, 6922, 7308, ecc88, e88cc, e188cc).

Doesn't have to be pretty, just functional.


Whatcha got? :afro: (not sure what the appropriate use of the new afro guy is. Let me know if this is an incorrect usage)

Thanks!:biggrin:


edit: dude, I can't get the afro guy to work; what gives?
2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
Post edited by falconcry72 on
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  • WGDB
    WGDB Posts: 162
    edited September 2011
    http://sanantonio.craigslist.org/msg/2588125701.html

    Not affiliated
    Pioneer Elite SC-35, Polk RTA (Real Time Array) 12's,
    Polk Monitor 40 surrounds, Polk CSiA4 Center,
    Polk PSW125, Sharp LC-46D62U,
    Panasonic DMP-BD85, Harmony One,
    iMac streaming an Apple TVII, or Squeezebox Touch
    Bedroom Rig~Sony STRDG-920, Polk Monitor 60 fronts, Polk RM6750 Satellites and Sub, Panasonic DMP-BD85
    Rabbit Hole Rig~Yamaha CA1010, Yamaha CT1010, Polk SDA 2A's, Teac A1500 R2R
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  • WGDB
    WGDB Posts: 162
    edited September 2011
    Here's another

    http://austin.craigslist.org/msg/2599585393.html

    Not Affiliated
    Pioneer Elite SC-35, Polk RTA (Real Time Array) 12's,
    Polk Monitor 40 surrounds, Polk CSiA4 Center,
    Polk PSW125, Sharp LC-46D62U,
    Panasonic DMP-BD85, Harmony One,
    iMac streaming an Apple TVII, or Squeezebox Touch
    Bedroom Rig~Sony STRDG-920, Polk Monitor 60 fronts, Polk RM6750 Satellites and Sub, Panasonic DMP-BD85
    Rabbit Hole Rig~Yamaha CA1010, Yamaha CT1010, Polk SDA 2A's, Teac A1500 R2R
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  • Cayuga
    Cayuga Posts: 480
    edited September 2011
    I have a small Sencore Mighty Mite TC 109, look it up and if you want it let me know.
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited October 2011
    I'm going to bump this as it is also time for me to finally get a tube tester. Do I need anything more than an emissions tester? Obviously the more information the better, but is emissions enough? There looks like a decent Knight 600A emissions tester near me, I'm just trying to figure out if I need more for my regular 6922, EL34, 6L6, and KT88 tubes.

    5Q35R35S53n33ma3ldban9cab416811a91906.jpg
    Jake
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,803
    edited October 2011
    If you only want an emissions tester, the little Sencore "Mighty-Mite" family is hard to beat. I have my father's early 1960's TC_130 Mighty-Mite III; used it last night in fact. Simple and straightforward to calibrate - tests emissions, grid leakage (one of the better grid leakage testers around, at least in the routine service arena), and shorts. Yes it'll test all sections of a multi-section tube; it won't provide sockets for some of the old-fashioned vacuum tube types favored by some of us more esoteric hifi nutcases (e.g., 4-pin power tubes).


    http://tubesound.com/2008/08/12/repair-calibration-sencore-mighty-mite/

    If you really want to test tube performance or match tubes, though, you need to look for a "transconductance" tester. These are pricer, more complex, and somewhat more tedious to use.

    All testers are really only as good as their calibration. Especially if you go for a high-end tester (e.g., Hickok TV-7 or its kin) spend the $$ and get one that's been restored and calibrated.
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited October 2011
    Good to know and thanks for the info. I've had very good success with tubes, but now that I'm ordering tubes directly from Russia, being able to test my own tubes would probably benefit me a lot. How was calibrating the tester?
    Jake
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  • IRLRaceFan
    IRLRaceFan Posts: 172
    edited October 2011
    Here's one for sale in MI - guy says it was used in a tv repair shop.
    http://annarbor.craigslist.org/ele/2674287322.html
    HT
    Onkyo TX-NR1008 | Magnepan 1.7 | Polk LSiC | Polk VM20 | Polk DSW microPro 2000 | Parasound HCA-2205A | Oppo BDP-93

    2-Ch
    Cary SLP 30 Tube Preamp | Polk LSi7 | Carver M1.5t | Audio-gd Digital Interface | W4S DAC-2 | MAC Mini | Denon DP300f & Pro-Ject Debut III TT's
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  • falconcry72
    falconcry72 Posts: 3,580
    edited October 2011
    fyi, I ended up getting a Sencore Mighty Mite VII (TC-162). This newer version is all solid state, and supposedly very reliable.

    Here's one on ebay:

    http://www.ebay.com/itm/SENCORE-MIGHTY-MITE-VII-TUBE-TESTER-GOOD-CONDITION-/230691627069?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item35b64ae03d#ht_500wt_969
    2-Channel: PC > Schiit Eitr > Audio Research DAC-8 > Audio Research LS-26 > Pass Labs X-250.5 > Magnepan 3.7's

    Living Room: PC > Marantz AV-7703 > Emotiva XPA-5 > Sonus Faber Liuto Towers, Sonus Faber Liuto Center, Sonus Faber Liuto Bookshelves > Dual SVS PC12-Pluses

    Office: Phone/Tablet > AudioEngine B1 > McIntosh D100 > Bryston 4B-ST > Polk Audio LSiM-703's
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,803
    edited October 2011
    seems like a fine choice to me; hope that it serves you well!
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