Advice on a tube tester

@thermionicemission 

Rob,

Very useful post.  I'm finding a lot of testers don't do the 9 pin minatures that were introduced with color TV so they are relatively new.  For the TV-7 you need the D/U.  for the 752 you need the A to test 9 pins. for the 539 you need the C.  the 539 tests each triode seperately so you have to test them twice.  It does a lot of testing but maybe more than I need.  The B&K 707 attracted my attention early and I'm glad to hear your views--from someone actualy using one he calibrated himself.  Fully agree on replacing sockets, can do it but do I want to?  

I've been up and down the scale on these testers a few times.  Right now I'm leaning toward the 707 or the TV-7D...probalby whichever one I find first in good condition at a reasonable price.  

If after using the tester a while I want more data, I can buy a high end Hickok then.

Jerry

I have a Hickok 800 , it’s perfect for screening tubes and preventing your amp from being a “tube tester”.   It’s more than adequate and fairly accurate.   If I were buying and selling tubes I would get a 539 or military type Hickok

I just bought a new Amplitrex.  It is easy enough to use and "computer mode" greatly enhances the set of functions.  Not cheap but well worth the money.  That said, I sell a lot of tubes and this unit is sort of essential for me to be able to communicate with Jac Music.  

Smart move.  That’s the benchmark in tube testers 

I love it when I can justify the biggest and the best but not being a tube seller (other than my excess) I can't really justify and Amplitrex.  

@verdantaudio Not sure what your relationship is with Jac Music is but I just boght a couple grand of parts and tubes from them.

Jerry