TUBE RINGS

[Deleted]

I couldn't help but notice that in many of, especially Mikes' photos of work in hand, that the valves are sporting anti resonance rings.

Having about as much knowledge on valves as you could write on one pin, I have to ask.

Within the realms of MF X-series products, do they make a noticable improvement and is one brand any better another e.g Golden Dragon, which at £11 a pop for a bit of teflon with a titanium spring clip, need to justify their price.

Please advise.

[Deleted]

Does sound and vibration travel in a vacuum ? I would have thought that sound/vibrations would enter the tube via it's base, where the electrodes are mounted from, not via the glass envelope, through a vacuum , and then the electrodes. I could be very wrong with this, but wouldn't it be better to dampen the base of the valve, and socket ? A good one for someone like Rick to answer ?
SandyK

[Deleted]

I could be very wrong with this, but wouldn't it be better to dampen the base of the valve, and socket ? A good one for someone like Rick to answer ?SandyK

I found these...

www.tnt-audio.com/accessories/vibra_iso_pt9_e.html



What do you think of those?

[Deleted]

cjarchez
Interesting. I wonder if the normal valve rings, not being made of metal, may slightly reduce the effective radiated cooling of a valve ?
SandyK

[rowuk]

Alex is right, sound would not travel through the vacuum BUT the glass, base and innerds are all mechanically connected, so vibration will be conducted regardless.

What is best is a philosophical question where high mass vs point of resonance damping will be competing for the grace of the listener. The high mass base does leave the tube glass exposed for optimum cooling however.

[rickcr42]

some high gain small signal tubes are extremely microphonic and yes adding some 'dampers' or 'resonators (changes the spectrum of the vibration) can make a very real and very audible difference plus as mentioned they don't look ugly so no harm done even if not absolutely needed.I'm pretty sure if you bounce over to the Mapletree audio site and download the "Tree Branches" pdf magazines you will find an article for DIY "tube rings"

For the "big bottle' DHT tubes side there is this DIY "El Cheapo/Cheap Bastard" type using "toy car" wheels.again not ugly (at least not in my opinion anyway )

scroll down to "Mick Shims"

www.enjoythemusic.com/tweaks/


www.enjoythemusic.com/tubelust/tubelustpage4.htm

(click the amp pic,won't allow linking here )

Bottom line ?

they work

[fanboi]

In my understanding their purpose is to counter microphony in the tube activated by air-borne sound waves more than anything else.
To test if they might be useful in your application, the simplest method is to tap the valve whilst operational with the side of a pencil and listen to hear if the sound is amplified.
If it is, then a tube damper of some type will help reduce this.
IMO they are more useful in amps used to drive speaker systems than headamps - there being very little air disturbance from headphones - whereas in speaker systems the louder the music, the greater the impact of the resulting soundwaves on the valve body and the greater the microphonic effect.
As Rick has noted, often more effective on small signal tubes than power tubes but again the pencil test is indicative of potential usefulness.
When purchasing tubes for sensitive positions it is often possible to select tubes having (or have them pre-tested for) low microphonic properties, which will also alleviate the problem.
I have found them to be useful and use the Herbies Labs HalO - doubtless others are effective.