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Tubes Asylum Questions about tubes and gear that glows. FAQ |
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Tubes Asylum Questions about tubes and gear that glows. FAQ |
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In Reply to: Valvo EZ80 with gold pins posted by Seán on February 21, 2007 at 01:01:46:
Seán,As far as I know, the gold plating on tube pins is to prevent oxidation on the pins that gradually lowers the conductivity.
Some people mention the gold pin tube that sounds better than than the steel pin version, as though it's the gold pins themselves contributing, but it's logical given that the gold pin version is going to be the premium version or selected. I believe the gold pins alone are not contributing to the sound except to the extent the corrosion-free pins are making better contact than steel pins with oxidation.
Gold pins are usually mentioned in listings as they denote a premium model, though I think some try to associate the plating alone with better sound. The gold pin fetish extends to claims on this forum that a certain Ebay seller plates the pins on certain tubes and markets them as original super-premium versions that never existed.
While the most glamourous tube I have is Valvo E80CF (6BL8) red label, pinched waist, and gold pin - also a great sounding version, I have several favourite tubes though that are steel pin: Siemens E83CC, E81CC, and 5814A- all triple mica tubes. As well, the Amperex Bugle Boy ECC88 and A-frame ECC88- always steel pinned.
I'm not aware of power tubes with gold pins.
While Siemens seemed to regard gold pins as an unnecessary luxury, and Telefunken plating habits are in the middle, Philips seemed to really like gold pins. In the US, the top gold pinner seems to be Sylvania, whereas the only RCA's I see with gold pins are a few rebranded German E88CC. I have gold pin Sylvanias: 6136 (6AU6), "GB-1252" (6U8), 6201 (12AT7), 5751 (12AX7) and I wonder if Sylvania's "Gold Brand" was not responsible for more gold pin tube versions than any other maker. It's worth noting, however, that not all Gold Brand Sylvanias have gold pins. All the Gold Brand tubes I have also were made with steel pins: 6678 (6U8) that are identical to the GB1252 but steel pin, steel pin 5751- the military issue were steel, the consumer version gold- and GB-6201 steel pin. Typically, if the original box has the little shield and lightning bolt a GB will have gold pins, if in the later box with the multiple big "SYLVANIA"s, the pins will be steel.
Generally, I do like to buy gold pinned tubes as it signifies the premium version, but it is the overall quality of the tube that dominates, not the plating. Looking back, I would say my prediliction for certain construction features is for triple mica tubes, but black plates, and square getter will get my attention too. Those features, like gold pins are not themselves affecting the sound, but in this case indicating earlier tubes.
Gold pins are functional- a glittering way to prevent oxidation, but are not in themselves contributing to the sound- touted through their association to the premium and/or selected versions. They do make tubes look glamourous for industrial devices !
Cheers,
Bambi B
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Follow Ups
- Gold tube pins: All that's gold is not glitter - Bambi B 06:24:57 02/21/07 (2)
- Re: Gold tube pins: All that's gold is not glitter - Seán 00:52:49 02/22/07 (1)
- Gold tube pins use - Bambi B 07:44:17 02/22/07 (0)
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