Tube tester?

Joey_V
Joey_V Posts: 8,569
in 2 Channel Audio
Is this a good tube tester?
Do you guys have recommendations?

I need a good tester for 6h30, 6550 for my audio research

Can a tube tester tell if they are about to blow for example?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/334751066249?chn=ps&mkevt=1&mkcid=28&srsltid=Ad5pg_F-AaTn8tTZiQR-BZjXPxcoSMhwL76pGlQtcCMjeS8eNIAIfUIHqqo
Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R
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Comments

  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,649
    The Hickok 539 or 750/752 series are some of the best. A tube can go bad at any moment, just the way it is.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • Joey_V
    Joey_V Posts: 8,569
    F1nut wrote: »
    The Hickok 539 or 750/752 series are some of the best. A tube can go bad at any moment, just the way it is.

    Are tube testers rather simple to use?
    Magico M2, JL113v2x2, EMM, ARC Ref 10 Line, ARC Ref 10 Phono, VPIx2, Lyra Etna, Airtight Opus1, Boulder, AQ Wel&Wild, SRA Scuttle Rack, BlueSound+LPS, Thorens 124DD+124SPU, Sennheiser, Metaxas R2R
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,649
    edited March 2023
    Joey_V wrote: »
    F1nut wrote: »
    The Hickok 539 or 750/752 series are some of the best. A tube can go bad at any moment, just the way it is.

    Are tube testers rather simple to use?

    Like most stuff, easy for some and not for others. You shouldn't have a problem.

    Do none of your audio buds have one?
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • pitdogg2
    pitdogg2 Posts: 25,570
    Reach out to Paul Hart and ask him, tell him what tubes you want to test.
    I had him work on my Hickok 600a, the guy knows he's stuff. He also sells testers that he has went through and brought up to snuff and fixed all that lost spec's.
    I can give you an email and phone number to reach out.

    Many old testers no matter how well they've been taken care of 50 to 70 years later they need work it's just the way it is.
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  • skrol
    skrol Posts: 3,387
    I can't talk my dad out of his Hickok 600a. He still uses it occasionally to service his test equipment and ham radio.
    Stan

    Main 2ch:
    Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.

    HT:
    Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60

    Other stuff:
    Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
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  • sucks2beme
    sucks2beme Posts: 5,602
    Regardless of how well it's made, time isn't
    Kind. A refresh and calibration are in order
    to be accurate. But if you just use it once in
    A while to see relative tube health, it would
    Be just fine. I have a Hickok stashed away.
    Those are well regarded as also well
    documented. Repair and calibration onto
    are all over the web.

    "The legitimate powers of government extend to such acts only as are injurious to others. But it does me no injury for my neighbour to say there are twenty gods, or no god. It neither picks my pocket nor breaks my leg." --Thomas Jefferson
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  • Clipdat
    Clipdat Posts: 12,949
    edited March 2023
    Rare long plate getter
    I might hear microphonics
    Last Hickok calibration?
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  • stereo55
    stereo55 Posts: 418
    Id recommend a B&K Precision 667 (solid state unit) . Nicely compact/small (compared to many) , super easy to use and accurate to the best of my testing and comparison to others such as the Hickok , etc over the last 10/20 yrs . ~ I do have other more pro/complete testers , but the 667 is my favorite for traveling to clients or sales where tubes need to checked . ~ I have two , one for travel and the second for home use when I dont want to breakout the big guns . ~ Both units still going strong and one has not needed calibration , the second needed mild calibration when first purchased , but nothing since . ~ Very nice units for the casual tester (or semi serious) , imo .
    SDA-2B's ~ Pair SDA-CRS's ~ ,*** Main listening: Maggies MG1 ~ Polk SDA 2B's ~ Monitor 10's , 3-pairs (2 pairs moded into SDA's w/SDA-2B/CRS cross-overs) , * DCM TF600's * Mission M71/M72 *** Main brdrm FRT: RTiA-5's /Presence RTi-4 / LSI-704 Cntr / Rear FXI3's ~~~ Assorted Main listening rm : , 2- Heathkit W-5M /tube mono blocks (Parasound P/HP-850)* * 2- Altec Lansing 1590b's/mono blocks (Yamaha C-45) * CM Labs 35D * Dynaco ST-70 ~ Occasionally ~* Yamaha CR-820/A-760 ,* Sansui AU-317/AU-217 * Carver 900 rec *2-Dynaco ST 120* 1 Hafler DH-220* Marantz 1040 ... more
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