Tube dampers, worth it?
mikeyb128
Posts: 2,885
I've fallen into a tube rabbit hole, and I've been obsessing over vibration and the small tweaks you can easily do to your system. What do people think of tube damper rings on pre amp tubes? Herbies? Or those space grade high temp o rings? I think the orings would be worth experimentation for the cheapness factor, and I also put my tube pre amp on a 20 lb granite block.
What do you guys think?
What do you guys think?
2 channel:
Bryston 4B3, Bryston BDA3, Cary SLP05, Shanling CDT1000SE with parts conneXion level 2 mods, Nottingham analogue ace space 294, soundsmith Carmen MKii, Zu DL103 MKii, Ortofon MC 20 MKii, Dynavector XX2 MKii, Rogue Audio Ares, Core power technologies balanced power conditioner, Akiko Corelli power conditioner with Akiko Audio HQ power cable, Nordost heimdall 2, Frey 2, interconnects, speaker and power cables, Focal Electra 1028 BE 2, Auralic Aries Femto, Black diamond racing cones, ingress audio level 1 roller blocks, JL Audio E110 with Auralic subdude, Primacoustics room treatments.
Theater:
Focal Aria 926,905,CC900, SVS PB ultra x2. Pioneer Elite SC85, Oppo BDP93, Panamax M5400PM, Minix neox6, Nordost Blue heaven LS power cables.
Bryston 4B3, Bryston BDA3, Cary SLP05, Shanling CDT1000SE with parts conneXion level 2 mods, Nottingham analogue ace space 294, soundsmith Carmen MKii, Zu DL103 MKii, Ortofon MC 20 MKii, Dynavector XX2 MKii, Rogue Audio Ares, Core power technologies balanced power conditioner, Akiko Corelli power conditioner with Akiko Audio HQ power cable, Nordost heimdall 2, Frey 2, interconnects, speaker and power cables, Focal Electra 1028 BE 2, Auralic Aries Femto, Black diamond racing cones, ingress audio level 1 roller blocks, JL Audio E110 with Auralic subdude, Primacoustics room treatments.
Theater:
Focal Aria 926,905,CC900, SVS PB ultra x2. Pioneer Elite SC85, Oppo BDP93, Panamax M5400PM, Minix neox6, Nordost Blue heaven LS power cables.
Comments
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I've read that tube dampers kill the "air" in the high notes. I don't have much interest in trying them to be honest.
@F1nut told me his philosophy regarding tube dampers.If a tube is microphonic, just replace it.afterburnt wrote: »They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.
Village Idiot of Club Polk -
I've read that tube dampers kill the "air" in the high notes. I don't have much interest in trying them to be honest.
@F1nut told me his philosophy regarding tube dampers.If a tube is microphonic, just replace it.
Crap, good advice as always from that guy.2 channel:
Bryston 4B3, Bryston BDA3, Cary SLP05, Shanling CDT1000SE with parts conneXion level 2 mods, Nottingham analogue ace space 294, soundsmith Carmen MKii, Zu DL103 MKii, Ortofon MC 20 MKii, Dynavector XX2 MKii, Rogue Audio Ares, Core power technologies balanced power conditioner, Akiko Corelli power conditioner with Akiko Audio HQ power cable, Nordost heimdall 2, Frey 2, interconnects, speaker and power cables, Focal Electra 1028 BE 2, Auralic Aries Femto, Black diamond racing cones, ingress audio level 1 roller blocks, JL Audio E110 with Auralic subdude, Primacoustics room treatments.
Theater:
Focal Aria 926,905,CC900, SVS PB ultra x2. Pioneer Elite SC85, Oppo BDP93, Panamax M5400PM, Minix neox6, Nordost Blue heaven LS power cables. -
afterburnt wrote: »They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.
Village Idiot of Club Polk -
I did see that thread, it's as controversial as cables.
Did a bit of an experiment. Cleaned the contacts on my vintage tubes, and I did get some of the fancy o rings, 8 for about 13 bucks. Popped the hood on the Cary, plugged it in, tried the new tubes and old ones, tapped the glass and was like tapping on the cover of your TT (can hear it through speakers). Put the dampers on, tapped on them and no noise. I have about 4 sets of tubes in the house, same result for all of them.
Only some listening will tell.2 channel:
Bryston 4B3, Bryston BDA3, Cary SLP05, Shanling CDT1000SE with parts conneXion level 2 mods, Nottingham analogue ace space 294, soundsmith Carmen MKii, Zu DL103 MKii, Ortofon MC 20 MKii, Dynavector XX2 MKii, Rogue Audio Ares, Core power technologies balanced power conditioner, Akiko Corelli power conditioner with Akiko Audio HQ power cable, Nordost heimdall 2, Frey 2, interconnects, speaker and power cables, Focal Electra 1028 BE 2, Auralic Aries Femto, Black diamond racing cones, ingress audio level 1 roller blocks, JL Audio E110 with Auralic subdude, Primacoustics room treatments.
Theater:
Focal Aria 926,905,CC900, SVS PB ultra x2. Pioneer Elite SC85, Oppo BDP93, Panamax M5400PM, Minix neox6, Nordost Blue heaven LS power cables. -
I used Herbies Tube Dampers on my Yaqin Tube Buffer with positive results. More air, blacker background while making the sound more life-like. Now with my Jolida JD-9 phono preamp, it didn't make any difference. So results will vary.
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Results definitely vary. I spent a few hours with various familiar tracks, I found positives and negatives. The o-rings seem to tighten up the bass some, made the background a little more quiet. The worst part is they kind of dulled the sound, and lessened the soundstage, for me this is a huge negative, especially with these speakers. Also the o-rings got really hot after only hours of play, with the cover off, this makes me uncomfortable. Not into pooching some vintage tubes prematurely over this.
I know herbies rings are better, but for only 13 dollars and some beers this was worth the try.2 channel:
Bryston 4B3, Bryston BDA3, Cary SLP05, Shanling CDT1000SE with parts conneXion level 2 mods, Nottingham analogue ace space 294, soundsmith Carmen MKii, Zu DL103 MKii, Ortofon MC 20 MKii, Dynavector XX2 MKii, Rogue Audio Ares, Core power technologies balanced power conditioner, Akiko Corelli power conditioner with Akiko Audio HQ power cable, Nordost heimdall 2, Frey 2, interconnects, speaker and power cables, Focal Electra 1028 BE 2, Auralic Aries Femto, Black diamond racing cones, ingress audio level 1 roller blocks, JL Audio E110 with Auralic subdude, Primacoustics room treatments.
Theater:
Focal Aria 926,905,CC900, SVS PB ultra x2. Pioneer Elite SC85, Oppo BDP93, Panamax M5400PM, Minix neox6, Nordost Blue heaven LS power cables. -
Have to say component isolation seems to be more worthwhile. This heavy slab of granite was FREE! The best price, and 2 dollars in cork stick-on feet. I must be crazy, because I can tell a difference with the granite.2 channel:
Bryston 4B3, Bryston BDA3, Cary SLP05, Shanling CDT1000SE with parts conneXion level 2 mods, Nottingham analogue ace space 294, soundsmith Carmen MKii, Zu DL103 MKii, Ortofon MC 20 MKii, Dynavector XX2 MKii, Rogue Audio Ares, Core power technologies balanced power conditioner, Akiko Corelli power conditioner with Akiko Audio HQ power cable, Nordost heimdall 2, Frey 2, interconnects, speaker and power cables, Focal Electra 1028 BE 2, Auralic Aries Femto, Black diamond racing cones, ingress audio level 1 roller blocks, JL Audio E110 with Auralic subdude, Primacoustics room treatments.
Theater:
Focal Aria 926,905,CC900, SVS PB ultra x2. Pioneer Elite SC85, Oppo BDP93, Panamax M5400PM, Minix neox6, Nordost Blue heaven LS power cables. -
The only time I use them is to tame an occasional microphonic tube, otherwise their benefit is debatable. It's a cheap enough tweak to try out and see for yourself. Me personally, I wouldn't obsess over it.
H9"Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul! -
Can be too much of a good thing and varies according to the preamp design. On a twelve tube Sonic Frontiers preamp I only use four of the Herbies Halo dampers to tune some of the glare off of relatively inexpensive signal tubes. Those dampers are only intended for use on small signal tubes that do not run really hot. Any more of the dampers on the rest of the tubes than that and the sound became dull. I consider dampers to be more of a tuning device rather than something that can correct a fault. If there is a fault in a tube, that problem should be corrected another way by using a different tube that isn't noisy.
I have also tried Pearl tube coolers and would not recommend those unless a signal tube is designed to run hot in a component. Those are more for cooling rather than damping. -
The only time I use them is to tame an occasional microphonic tube, otherwise their benefit is debatable. It's a cheap enough tweak to try out and see for yourself. Me personally, I wouldn't obsess over it.
H9
I should have been more clear, I have become very intrigued is a better word... With isolation, cable risers, and all these small tweaks that in the end are adding up a lot sound quality wise. And the tweaking and tinkering is just plain fun.
I spent the better part of the evening with the dampers. In the end no dampers and the top went back on the Cary, I stayed up unitl 2am enjoying some tunes. And I slept like a baby over it!
Thank you for the input.2 channel:
Bryston 4B3, Bryston BDA3, Cary SLP05, Shanling CDT1000SE with parts conneXion level 2 mods, Nottingham analogue ace space 294, soundsmith Carmen MKii, Zu DL103 MKii, Ortofon MC 20 MKii, Dynavector XX2 MKii, Rogue Audio Ares, Core power technologies balanced power conditioner, Akiko Corelli power conditioner with Akiko Audio HQ power cable, Nordost heimdall 2, Frey 2, interconnects, speaker and power cables, Focal Electra 1028 BE 2, Auralic Aries Femto, Black diamond racing cones, ingress audio level 1 roller blocks, JL Audio E110 with Auralic subdude, Primacoustics room treatments.
Theater:
Focal Aria 926,905,CC900, SVS PB ultra x2. Pioneer Elite SC85, Oppo BDP93, Panamax M5400PM, Minix neox6, Nordost Blue heaven LS power cables.
