Tube dampener questions

@tomic601,
I don’t question your outcome using tube dampers in the least. My experience with their use years ago was different and is not a blanket condemnation covering all manner of tubes in any number of situations. It sure appears to be an individual case by case scenario influenced by numerous variables.

Here’s another example of outcome variance. My use of upgraded fuses has been positive. No doubt that this is not the case for everyone who’s tried them.
Charles

My experience with tube dampers echoes many others here.  They snuffed the life out of the system.  I spent a couple of weeks bemoaning why the system didn't sound right.  Then I remembered those darn dampers and tossed them.  Life is good again!

@charles1dad - there you go acting rational vs a blanket condemnation… I believe the fuse community loves to say and i paraphrase: If you haven’t listened you don’t have a valid input. 

My reaction after listening twelve hours strait yesterday could have been summed up - keep trying and listening….

i don’t have dampers on the 4 tubes in my Aesthetix DAC or my Herron or Croft phono preamps because in that circuit of Jim Whites / Keith Herron / Glen Croft, they don’t help, even prove detrimental.. But as described they do benefit other components in the chain..

Although, i need to back and put the ADC damper on just the Mullard Neon in the regulator circuit…..

Best to those w open ears, minds…

Dumped them on my X200 and you can not fit one on KT170’s

Dampeners should not be applied to power tubes. They will reduce the tube's ability to get rid of heat, shortening the life of the tube.

For small signal tubes like the 6SN7, 12Aseries and the like, dampers can be helpful. They do not detract from the sound of the tube; they will help reduce some microphonic signature. If you find you don't like the sound of the result ('deadens the sound') its possible that the additional distortion that is removed by reducing microphonics (which adds brightness) is part of your system sound. Before making a pronouncement, I would live with the results for a while!


If you have a tube that is unacceptably microphonic, a tube damper will not help (it will be a drop in the bucket)! IMO/IME there's no point in using tube dampers unless you start with good tubes to begin with.