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Damping rings on output tubes? Good idea? Harmful? Nostrum?
Follow Ups:
That is, on my preamp 6922-type tubes. They also act as dampers.
The coolers are suppose to cool the tubes or at least spread the heat over the external surface of the tube which is supposed to extend their lives.
I frankly can't speak to the efficacy of the Pearl coolers. I could image them being more effective on power tubes than line-level tubes.
NOT the 51st state, eh!?!
... then the amp itself might have something to do with the audibility of tube vibrations.Tube sockets are usually anchored in a chassis of some kind.
If chassis construction can have any affect on the audible translation of tube vibrations, then tube dampers might do more when used on the tubes of some tube amps than on others ?
Assuming of course that tube dampers can do anything at all in any case...
Edits: 02/16/25
and quickly found out they didn't make a bit difference in my experience. Never used them again.
KP
Ask yourself, if they made a scrap of difference, wouldn't the self-respecting and reputable brands include them in their amps from new?
If the don't, you've answered your own question. Simples!
All the tubes in my Audio Research amps, preamps, and phono stages came with tube dampers already installed. In my opinion Audio Research is a reputable brand. I can't tell how much difference they make because I've never listened to them without the dampers. I installed dampers on some older tube equipment (not ARC) and couldn't hear any difference, but I thought if ARC units come with dampers installed I may as well leave them there.
.
Good point. The chap at Audio Classic also has no use for them, and they work on M
What tubes are you using? I may have a cheap way to find out if you like dampers.
6L6GC. However, the Audio Classics rep does not think tube dampers are useful. I've tried them, and I think I agree. The restored McIntosh 240 amp is very nice. I think it was designed well enough to avoid vibrations. I have it on a good system rack and use rubber/cork vibration isolation pads. I really have not detected microphonics from the tubes.
Herbie's has tube dampers for all sizes. They won't melt, they won't hold the heat in and they do their job. That said, you may or may not like the outcome. A little vibration can actually sound good, sometimes dampers can make tubes sound dead. They are cheap enough to try though.
Jack
I use them on the driver tubes only as that is what Audio Research has found works better. Also, my case is different because the amps are located behind the big dipoles.
m
"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination" -Michael McClure
+2. Worth a try, but that's about it. I don't use them at all these days, but that's just me.
+1
As long as they're rated for the heat I guess it wouldn't hurt anything.
Whether there's a benefit is entirely up to your ears.
I used to use them on just about everything, but found less and less benefit after employing other vibration/resonance controls.
I second Sondek-
Whether there's a benefit is entirely up to your ears.
Happy Listening
We used EL-34 and 6550 amps. Heat can melt a lot of tube dampers, so keep an eye out.
That's why we ended up with Shun Mook ebony caps (wood does not melt) and tube dampers from Herbie's Audio Lab. I personally liked the latter, which have minimal contact with the tube, do not break down from heat, and can have a pleasant sonic effect.
If your output tubes aren't suffering from microphonics, then you may or may not like the sonic changes (if any) brought about by dampers. Not sure why, but EL-34s in our Conrad-Johnson MV-55 underwent greater sonic change, when dampers were used. We used the exact same EL-34s in other amps, and the dampers did not effect as much sonic change.
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