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Benefit of Tube Dampers/Coolers on 6H30?

A quick search of the forums led me to the belief that the effectiveness of tube dampers and coolers is dependent on the tubes used.

I'm auditiioning an Ayon CD-2, and want to really hear what it's capable of before deciding to keep it (which I'm leaning toward anyway).

I'm curious about how beneficial dampers and coolers are on 6H30 tubes. And if they are helpful, which to use? I saw Mrtennis recommended the EAT coolers/dampers (http://www.elusivedisc.com/prodinfo.asp?number=MHEATDAMP)in another thread, and he stated they tamed some of the mid/treble glare in his unit, which is exactly the issue I have with the performance of the CD-2 right now. OTOH, it seems Herbie's halos (http://herbiesaudiolab.home.att.net/)are the most popular choice, although I sense the EATs are fairly new.

Then there are these, with a choice of brass or copper: http://www.audiotubes.com/damper.htm

These, which look very much like the EATs, but cheaper: http://www.partsconnexion.com/Advertising/audiogon/pearl.html

These for the *really* brave: http://www.realhamradio.com/liquid-cooling.htm

And I recently saw some coolers/dampers somewhere that looked like the EAT and pcX, but longer, covering almost the entire tube, although I can't find them now.

I'm a bit lost. Are any of these products superior to the others? Do any of them change the sound in different ways than the others? Would it be beneficial to combine products, such as Herbie's and the EAT on the tubes?

Are the 6H30 tubes so good they don't suffer from microphonics and other common tube characteristics such that the use of any of these devices would render little if any beneift?

Thanks to all for your thoughts.

HC
aggielaw
aggielaw OP
267 posts
 
Hmmm. Interesting observations, Samhar. I'm away on business, but you can bet I'll try the stock cord on the CD. I'm using the Cloude 9 speaker cables, but Stealth Dream power cords.

You're spot on about the sonic traits I hear with the CD-2. That concerns me, and leads me to seriously question whether break-in will alleviate this issue. I'll break the unit in as well as I can until my 15 days are up to see what happens.

I've corresponded with others who have owned Ayon CD players, including another person reviewing the CD-2 right now, and no one else seems to hear what I'm hearing. Yet none of my components could be considered bright or harsh. My KCI Silkworms are temporarily replaced by Gabriel Gold Revelation interconnects, as my CD-2 had some shipping damage to one of the XLR connections. I should note I'm using a number of room treatments and don't hear any glare or harshness from the Cary, so I think I can eliminate the room as the cause/a contributor to the undesired sonic traits.

I'm now shying away from tube coolers after reading elsewhere that they may actually cause damage to the tube by displacing and concentrating the heat to small areas of the tube. I've also received some input that dampers don't have the degree of effect on 6H30 tubes that they have on other tubes, but I'll likely still try a quad of Herbie's Ultrasonic 9 dampers nonetheless.

Still interested in input from other users and keeping an open mind. Thanks to those who have already shared thoughts!

HC
samhar
1,048 posts
 
I think your hearing exceptionally, it's hard to stay the course with everyone's impute ( some probably have a horse in the race) and keep saying to yourself that just sounds forward and bright to me!! I live in a hot bed of ARC systems with people that love and defend "that" sound. Triple expresso vs Single Malt Scotch.
I didn't mean to say changing cords will make that great a difference with 6H30 design gear. It will just be less forward and thin not a change in the basic sound with the stock cord.
The tube dampeners will only take away what your trying to get, a rich warm tube bloom.(something that will never happen with the 6H30)
I pulled the dampers off the 6922's and 12AX7's in my Calypso preamp to get a richer sound. I like gear with 6922's, 12AX7's ETC. that permit me to modify the sound depending on my moods or the type of music I'm listening to, something you would be giving up.
Keep us appraised of your progress.
Sam
eee3
214 posts
 
Samhar, I'm reading your observations about the 6h30 tubes and the first question I have is what 6h30 tube did you listen to? As you should know, if you don't, there're several different versions of this tube. Have you heard all of the different 6h30's that are made?
It would seem to me that if you haven't then you can't make a universal statement about "that" sound as you call it.
For example 6h30 dr's as well as the BAT 6h30's sound much better than the electro harmonix and sovtek 6h30's. They're much smoother and warmer and sound quite good to me in my system.
Just because they didn't sound good in your system doesn't mean they won't sound good in someone else's.
In the final analysis its all about system synergy. Other things affect sound not just tubes! Such as interconnects, powercords, speaker cables, proper component matching etc.
Its just as hard to stay the course with your inpute as it is with anyone else's. We all have opinions and no one opinion is any better than another's.
Aggielaw, listen for yourself, no one can tell how something is going to sound in your system. Experiment with other versions of the 6h30 and then make your decision.
That's my advice.
samhar
1,048 posts
 
Eee3 the stock 6H30 tubes in my now sold ARC VS-115 amp which I wanted to like and gave a fair amount of time to break in but never could quite like. I think the designers are stuck with this tube and are doing the best they can with a tube that's sonic characteristics aren't close to the 6922, 7308, 6DJ8,12AX7 and 12AU7 etc. They can't design for these tubes because there aren't enough around and so far the Russians and the Chinese haven't been able to produce tubes with comparable sonics. My experiment cost me a fair amount of money and my intention here is to back Aggielaw's impression of the sonics of the CD 2 , not to change his mind but to support his experience by making him aware that " its not him" others hear similar things!
eee3
214 posts
 
Samhar, you just supported what I said! You were listening to stock 6h30's. Nos 6h30's are much better than the stock ones, just as nos 6922,6dj8,7308's are considerably better than stock ones, as well as after market or audiophile quality powercords are better than stock cords.
My point is give an accurate account ie; I only tried stock 6h30's not nos 6h30's. You didn't say that! which would lead someone to think that that's indicative of all 6h30's tubes.
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