Tube microphonics

Here's another tidbit of audio nervosa; never mover tube gear warm, it must be totally cooled down first. To do otherwise is to invite the tubes to become microphonic! 

and this is why i have daily deliveries of dry ice!!! 😂🤣😆😃

@curiousjim

yes

in the amps i have had that run them in the input and driver stages, arc put dampers on 6n1p as well as 6h30p tubes as well... and of course on older models, the 6dj8's

perhaps i wasn’t clear in my earlier post and created some confusion -- arc puts dampers only on low level tubes -- not the power tubes

i haven’t bought new audio research tube amp in a few years but i have over a half dozen of them, and in every case, the company puts thick rubber tube dampers on every low level tube when the amp is shipped from the factory, and when replacement tubes are shipped there are instructions to move the old dampers over to the new tubes to be installed

this shows that as designers/makers of the gear, they are definitely concerned about unwanted microphonics affecting the sound produced, and are making an effort to damp them out

so i think it is worthwhile for the op to make an effort to move the amps, as hard as that might be, away from the speakers, to see if a positive sonic difference results

Just because a tube pings if you tap it does not mean it will sound bad. Mild microphonics is not a problem. I’ve heard tube trials where the best sounding tubes happen to be microphonic (the tubes were 310A’s).

this is very true, and an important point to note in any discussion about tube microphonics in a hifi use context

thanks for reminding us @larryi !!

yes indeed - don’t ask -- just try it!!!

here is an explanation