Sounds kinda weird I know, but as I am a true believer in everything that Jerry does at Audio-Magic, I decided to give his tube paint a try. Apparently, it keeps EMI/RFI from getting into the tubes. It also prevents stray tube emissions from affecting any adjacent tubes. All I know is that it works! I painted the power supply tubes in my phono stage which consists of one ECL 82 power tube, one EZ80 rectifier, and one StR 85/10 regulator tube. The difference in tonality-richer and more dense midrange, was apparent right away. Because the paint is easily washed off with a moist cloth, I was able to hear back and forth what was going on. Sure enough, the naked tubes sounded threadbare and a bit coarse and grainy. I brushed up the tubes again, and re-listened. The dimensionality and focus came back. What I also heard was a "realness" to the music-like I had more of a connection to the performance. The cost of this upgrade is very small in relation to the performance boost. Give it a try!
I received my bottle of Audio Magic Blackout paint this week. I have tried it on an Art Audio PX-25 amplifier and an Eddie Current- Zana Deux headphone amp. I applied it first to the rectifier tubes and the driver tubes. A nice sonic improvement was immediately noted. Better clarity with less grain. Tighter bass. Female vocals wre more relaxed and yet no loss of emotion. Overall I did not get a sense of something being subtracted, as some tweeks I have tried seem to do. I did try one tube (6SL7GT) with, then paint removed, then reapplied. I liked the improvement and so the paint stays on. The paint is easily removed with water and a soft cloth.
I am of the opinion most tube systems will hear a decided benefit after application of Audio Magic Blackout Paint.
"Audio Magic paint is $240 for a 8oz bottle and the paint is not reusable. Herbie's can be applied, reapplied, move to other tubes, or resold if not satisfied."
Geez, whaddya paintin', your house? Pretty sure the Audio Magic paint is sold in smaller bottles at considerably less cost.
Audio Magic paint is $240 for a 8oz bottle and the paint is not reusable. Herbie's can be applied, reapplied, move to other tubes, or resold if not satisfied.
"Herbies Audio Lab tube rings they give more definition, better dynamics better bass and they are cheap!!"
Not sure I go along with you there as the cost of Herbies Tube Damper instruments are on the order of the cost of the tubes themselves in some cases. On the other hand if you use premium tubes you might say the dampers are cost effective, or whatever, but probably not cheap. I use two dampers per tube so I definitely wouldn't say they're cheap at $30 each.
First of all NO LEAD IN THE PAINT not sure where you came up with that??????
ItÂs called humor ..lead is a material well known for its ability to block EMI/RFI and was banned in household paint some 10 years ago. Perhaps Audio Magic found a use for all the left over discontinued lead paint and decided to market it at $240 per 8oz. I wonder if it will increase the performance of my Tice clock?
BTW, Audio Magic does not list the bottleÂs contents on their website.
If you are really concerned about EMI/RFI interference, why not just put a tube shield over the sensitive tubes?
First of all NO LEAD IN THE PAINT not sure where you came up with that?????? Second, if you apply one coat the tubes will not run any hotter, the heat can escape with ease, when you consider how many tubes you can treat I suspect the tube dampers are more expensive! Maybe a combination of dampers and tube paint would be the hot setup [ no pun intended ].
Thanks for the comments on the Audio Magic tube paint, am considering it for my '52 Sylvania 6SN7s and '42 Tung Sol 5U4G rectifier. Am a big fan of Herbies tube dampers, am using two per tube actually...
Thats a joke it will make your tubes run hotter.If you want the BEST tube tweak get Herbies Audio Lab tube rings they give more definition, better dynamics better bass and they are cheap!!
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