Do tube dampers really work?


Tube dampers are relatively cheap; but will they REALLY improve the sound of my Audible Illusions preamp?
rockyboy
Most definitely yes, but it does take some experimentation
to find the best items for a given system.
A friend of mine, who is a tube seller in Germany, test the Herbie's tube dampers in his own designed microphonic tester. He recorded a max of 6dB of microphonic level being reduced on a E88CC tube with the Herbie dampers.
Yes but you also have to add a weight to the top of the tube. There were a few companies selling these a few years back but you can make your own by going to the arts and craft store and buying some lead ribbon and making a little circle to fit on top of your tubes. Cheap and effective.
Smacking the tubes while running is not an effective test of microphonics. Just a stupid thing to do.

-Ed
I'm using a set of 6 Hal-O tube dampers from Herbie's Audio Lab (on both preamp and amp). The cost was $95 with a 90 day money back guarantee. There's no way mine are going back. The change in my system was dramatic.