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Tube dampeners on ARC gear ... FREE TWEAK

Here's a cheap (free) tweak for owners of ARC gear using the black tube dampeners. If you move both dampeners as far up toward the top of the tube as possible without having the top one fall off, taking care that both dampeners are solidly touching each other, you will get better dynamics, bass, mids, highs and a lower noise floor. Try it ... you'll like it.
128x128oregonpapa
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
 
oregonpapa OP
941 posts
06-03-2016 9:43am
^^^
"Reducing micro vibrations is a major key in obtaining a highly resolving system. As a vinyl lover, the only thing I want vibrating is that needle in the record groove. 

So many in the hobby, especially newbies, aren't aware of what can be done to reduce, or eliminate these vibrations. Tube dampeners are just one small area to attack ... even to the point of location of the tube rings on the tubes.

Could a new topic be in the offing?"

Sounds like voodoo to me. I'm down.


oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa OP
4,867 posts
 
^^^^  Well, you know me ... I love "voodoo,"  .... fuses, cables, etc. :-)

mapman's avatar
mapman
22,182 posts
 
Lots of information out there from many credible sources about tube microphonics.

No voodoo there.

Which dampers work best when needed?   The standard ones that came on the tubes in my Arc pre-amp seem pretty simple and effective.   Others might be better or at least produce different results for sure.   YMMV most likely.


geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 

mapman
13,366 posts
06-03-2016 12:04pm
"Lots of information out there from many credible sources about tube microphonics.

No voodoo there.

Which dampers work best when needed? The standard ones that came on the tubes in my Arc pre-amp seem pretty simple and effective. Others might be better or at least produce different results for sure. YMMV most likely."

Sorry to be the beare of bad news, but they all suck. Every single one of them, including the pricey Swiss Ensemble tube socks, all those cute little elastomer rings, the ebony hats the, crystals, what have you, all except one. And all those dampers seem like such a good idea, too. See if you can guess which one doesn’t suck.

Yeah, you're right, there's lots of credible info out there.  The trick is to separate the credible from the uh incredible. 

An ordinary man has no means of deliverance.



oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa OP
4,867 posts
 
geoffkait ...

If the stock tube rings from ARC "suck," why is there such an improvement with them in the proper placement, and why the degradation of the sound when they are totally removed from the tubes?  

I don't like to guess. What tube dampeners are you referring to?

Mapman ...

Have you tried moving the tube rings to the position suggested in the opening post in this thread? If so ... what were the results??

OP
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