Recommendations for a vacum tube tester

@scottya118 

Are you technically capable of building one?

I have schematic, PCB & CAD layout. PM if interested.

I also have this one:

https://orangeamps.com/products/accessories/amplifier-management/valve-tester/

But it is more for guitar amp tubes than the numerous other kinds of hifi tubes.

There is some debate if it is really that accurate but if you find one for a couple hundred bucks used grab it. I don't think they make it anymore so unlikely to find a new one.

Then there are these guys in Canada - seem like some neat gear but maybe not as rugged as the Maximatcher.

http://www.thebestamp.com/Testing_Equipment/Testing_Equipment.php

Good luck.

For a low-cost device, the Orange is pretty good.  It is very easy to use, and gives realistic assessments (it is a tougher grader than a TV-7 which seems to find every tube is strong).  But, a friend noticed that it seems a bit under powered when heating up certain tube types, like KT 88s, so one has to go through multiple test cycles to heat the tube to get a good reading.

Yes I find the Orange pretty good for quickly testing 12AX7s and other small 9 pin preamp tubes. I like that it gives you a reading for both sides of the tube to see if they are well matched or not. And the tester is fairly small and simple to use.

But the Maximatcher is pretty easy to use too. Just set the bias and plate voltage from the chart and then select the tube to see the reading (it does 4 tubes at a time). There are also adapters for other non octal tubes like 300B for the power tube tester as well as octal to 9 pin adapters for 6SN7 and others on the preamp tube tester.

So with Maximatcher you are into about $2k to buy two testers (power and preamp) and a few adapters. With the Orange tester it is $200-$300 if you can find one but no octal preamp tubes and only octal power tubes and maybe not super accurate results.

In 1950 they were $25

My tester was $159 in 1959….

Cheap ones ('emissions' testers) did but a decent (transconductance) tester could cost about $800 back then. That's about $10K in today's dollars- a significant but essential investment for a TV repair shop.

@ieales Awesome!!