Quicksilver Contact Enhancer

Andy at Vintage Tube Services is adamant against using it on tube pins. Says the pressure of the sockets is more than sufficient and the goop cannot enhance sonics any further.

That's good enough for me.

With many tweaks, we hear what we want to hear.

Hi Audiofeil--I can't comment on the tubes--but did hear a difference --interesting question with this or other contact enhancers is what percentage of improvement comes from just cleaning -deoxidizers etc of the contacts vs the addition of the q s gold enhancer??--rich

I agree with Bill F.
I deoxidized my tube pins and sockets every few months with Caig Deoxit and then clean the residue with alcohol 99% and finish off with Kontak. I have used QSG on tube pins in the past with no audible difference. The problem with power tubes is with the heat they generate the QSG cooks on the pins and you can't get it off later on if you have to.....very difficult. It also, "loosen" the power tubes in their socket preventing a tight fit when the stuff is on.
The only place i use it is on interconnects and speaker/power cables and my tonearm cable and cartridge pins. Not using it at all on any tubes.

Wow!
Smoffatt, I heard a huge improvement and used a brass brush to clean my tubes with no ill effect.As far as tubes loosening,again I was fine with the tightness of the pins and the sound.Just goes to show that implementation is critical as well as a listening.I still think that the difference is well worth the effort for a tube amp and the differences are not subtle ( cleaning your tube pins isn't necessary because of the elimination of the arcing that use to take place between the tube and socket).For those willing to invest time and forethought, I highly recommend QSG.Hope this helps Dennis

I too have had success with tube pins. No loosening observed and the effect was certainly positive w/o any observable down side. It's worth a shot. If you don't like the effect, it can easily be cleaned with alcohol and some rubbing. Just don't over do it.

Regards,

Kenobi