Do "Tube Rings" really work?

I use Audio Research clear tube rings (the cheapest out there) and the signal seems cleaner and maybe a little sterile. I will take them off soon and listen some more. At the very least they are a tweek to be used when you have found your perfect system and just can not stop yourself from tweeking (like most of us). In other words do not bother unless you are done buying your main components.

Thanks guys...as always, you've been helpful. I don't think I have a microphonics problem, but as Philjolet says, it's something else to play with!!!

m-

I bougth a preamp with clear tube rings that had melted.Ended up having to replace a socket and cleaning all the tubes.

Audio Research installs tube dampers on its products from the factory, and that should tell you something. I've never had a damper melt, just get brittle, and I could always tell by ear when they hardened and needed to be replaced. The classic test is to tap one of your input tubes with the eraser end of a pencil while your system is on - if you can hear the ringing through your speakers (which will always be the case in my experience), put a damper on it.

SD, let me see if I can give the "objective" pro argument for why tube damping devices MAY make a positive difference. You note that if a preamp is well-isolated this should take care of any potential problem. The mechanical aspect can be handled with good rackage and footage. But how can you isolate it acoustically except to place it in another room (too inconvenient)? This question relates to how loudly one wants to play their system. If someone really blasts it with a microphonic tube in a high-gain block, there is little doubt that a small amount of feedback could be induced with audible results around the resonant frequency. But then, why not just select tubes that don't ring in the first place?