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Advice on a tube tester

Well I just got kicked off Facebook for the weekend so I'll probably be active here.  Not sure if that is a plus or a minus for Audiogon.  😎

I'm looking to buy my first tube tester.  I want to be able to identify bad tubes, verify readings on "NOS" or "used, measures like new" in tubes I buy, and I need to sell off a bunch of tubes and I'd like to be able to test them before I sell them.  Selling a bad tube, refunding the money, leaves me out shipping, a lot of work and 3 good tubes in limbo. 

So I'm looking at a B&K 707/747 or a hickok 539A or similar, mostly just based on what I see that fits my needs and seems to be $500 or less.  I see tested and calibrated tube testers for $1500 on ebay but I think I can get by for a lot less.

Tubes I have to test are 6l6 series, EL84, OA3/4, 6922, WE396, KT88 and maybe a few others.  it would be nice to test 300B/350B tubes but I think most testers doen't do that. 

So I'd appreciate guidance from people who have been testing tubes for a while.

Thanks,

Jerry

128x128carlsbad
invalid
1,085 posts
 

Tube testers aren't very accurate at measuring the life of a tube, so you may still get some returns if using a tube tester.

carlsbad's avatar
carlsbad OP
1,551 posts
 

@oddiofyl That's a beauty.  And I agree with your advice.  Loose sockets can be a problem with well worn testers.

@tksteingraber I would probably agree that I don't need one.   It is consistent with my lab scientist nature and I-build-thing mentality to want one.

@invalid I agree the data is not all it is cracked up to be but I see lots of instances where it is of use to me.  

thanks all for your help.  

Jerry

oddiofyl's avatar
oddiofyl
3,468 posts
 

Just remember, most are pretty crappy.   Nice ones cost $$$ but are worth it 

petg60
1,486 posts
 

For checking if a tube is bad or not the tv-7 ( i had one in excellent condition), tv-10 are perfect for the job, most likely they would require calibration but are easy to maintain. For what matters most, to match tubes properly very few can do it.

Transconductance is not the way to match signal tubes but power ones.

It depends how accurate you want to be as i understand your tube menu varies. Would it be better to chase a modern tester that can do both?

 

carlsbad's avatar
carlsbad OP
1,551 posts
 

Thanks @petg60 .  Which TV-7 did you have?  Do you know what the differnce is between the TV-7 A/U, B/U, C/u and D/U is?  

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