2. amps-preamps
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Tube dampers?

My system consist of Shanling STP 80 and T200 cd player, I have been looking around for tube dampers and I found some o-rings and other types of dampers, dont know which ones will work better for my setup since my El 34 electro harmonix and WE 396A/GE 5670W have a metal type cage around them so I dont know if I will have enough room to play with when it comes to tube dampers. I did look into Brass, O-Ring and Herbies type of dampers however I dont know much about any of them. Any advise?

I've heard about ARC, Herbies, Mapleshade and other vendors, some cheap and some $$$ If you recommend a product please please provide me with a link so I can lookup the information. Not looking to break the bank but do some worthwhile improvements.

Thanks, Robert
chgolatin2
david12
1,454 posts
 
Another vote for Herbies. He is very helpful, there is a full range covering all likely temperatures and tube sizes and they are cheap. What more can you say, OH yes he has a returns policy, a no brainer.
nglazer
846 posts
 
Herbie's work very well. The change is not immediately apparent for some reason, but over time you will hear the improvements.

Neal
chgolatin2 OP
53 posts
 
Herbies ring look good however I dont want to remove the cage around the tubes, they look fairly nice oem style. Any other recommendations?

Thanks
lkdog
417 posts
 
I used Teflon tape on my tubes on my Hagerman phono stage.
Nice change.
You wrap about fifteen times around the middle of the tube.
Can buy it at any hardware store for cheap.
groberts3's avatar
groberts3
38 posts
 
I just put some Herbie 09's on my 6922's in a BAT Vk300x Integrated and also in a BAT VK-D5 tube CD player. I'm not sure how much difference I heard since the gear was still relatively new to me. But I am getting a 3-D soundstage with amazing space, air and instrument placement. I believe all those attributes improved with the Herbie tube dampers. The pricepoint is sweet enough that I am going to just leave them on. The Amperex tubes I am using deserve the very best!

If my Audiophile listening club wants to scrutinize the tube damper tweak some night, I'll do an A-B test with, and without them and ask the group to report on what differences they hear.
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