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Best tube dampers that you have used

I currently have a Thor Audio monoblocks TP-150, 8  EL-34's Sovtek tubes for each amp.
Was wondering in anyone's experience will tube dampers improve the sound quality.
Am hesitant to proceed as I have read that  tube dampers can melt from the heat of the tubes and sometimes
cause smoke. Any thoughts would be appreciated.  
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georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
Forget expensive audiophile tube dampers, use red silicon "O" Rings are the best bang for buck to quieten tube microphonics used two spaced per tube.

Choose your size, don’t make them too tight, they "can" dent the glass over time.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_from=R40&_trksid=m570.l1313&_nkw=silicon+O+rings&_sacat...

Cheers George
oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa
4,867 posts
 
I'm sold on Herbie's tube dampeners. Way better sounding than the Audio Research dampeners supplied on ARC amps.

Frank
dopogue
1,773 posts
 
Of the 29 tubes in my current setup, not one has a damper on it.  Not for lack of trying them, everything from Herbies to Mapleshade.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
23,365 posts
 
If you look long and hard enough you can always find somebody who doesn’t hear it. - Old audiophile expression 😀
midareff1
182 posts
 
I use the Pearl Tube Coolers with a bit of a modification.  I solder a wire to them which I run to chassis ground.  Not only do they drop tube crown temp 10 to 15 degrees they eliminate any RF interference via the grounding and provide damping.
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