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Tube Tester

After a lifetime of solid state equipment I have switched to tubes, my first choice in sound but had not wanted to deal with the extra upkeep in the past. What do I need in a tube tester and any recommendations for something around $150 with shipping? I am using a Unison Research Triode 25 Integrated Amp with a Black Ice Audio DSD Wifi Dac, so the tester will need to be able to test EL34. 12AU7 and 12AX7 tubes.

Thanks
mtloriginal
Post removed 
oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 
Otherwise, you’re probably better off buying a new Amplitrex AT1000
http://amplitrex.com


Hello tvas.. Do you know what they wanted for the Amplitrex AT1000
I looked at this before, They never did get back with me, on a price or build time.. There was another one too. 

Orange AT1000, last time I looked they were 425.00.  It's gone up 75.00, in 3 years..

What about that one? 500.00 Now...Though.

You ever use either one..

Regards
mtloriginal OP
10 posts
 
Thank you for everyone's comments. I was asking what the tube tester needed to test and a recommendation for a tester. My main goal would be if I hear sonic degradation to determine the bad tube or tubes. My components have very low hours at this point in time.

From the comments it looks like there are no reasonably priced testers.
If a vendor needed to do the testing would this eliminate purchasing tubes over the internet ?




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millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
My main goal would be if I hear sonic degradation to determine the bad tube or tubes.

If you think you hear sonic degradation first swap power tubes side to side. It can’t be that all four degraded identically the same so it should sound different and you should know which pair and now just need to narrow it down to which one. Repeat the swap only this time one tube. Now you know which one it is. Unless there is no difference. In that case you know it was all in your mind. There never was a problem to begin with.

Unless its one of the input tubes. In that case swap those. Now this was a very low probability to begin with but at least now you know its not that. Finally you are down to the rectifier tube, which almost certainly its not.

Now the great thing at this point is when you realize you could buy a full set of tubes, all of them, and nice ones too, for much less than the cost of a pretty crappy tube tester. Which is why in 30 years I have never bought a tube tester.

Notice I’m not the only one. I’m with tablejockey on this. Honestly I think if you read what you wrote you will realize you are too.
my first choice in sound but had not wanted to deal with the extra upkeep


So all you do, realize the "extra upkeep" is imaginary. An old Jedi mind trick. These are not the upkeeps you’re looking for.

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