[catastrofe]

I picked up some lightly used Sophia 45s to try in my Tram2 preamp.  These things are so microphonic that if I cough or sneeze from 12' away, it sounds like a gong through my system.  Same result when playing loud musical passages and hitting "pause".

I believe most of the issue is their shape, which seems to exacerbate airborne vibrations.  I tried Herbie's RX tuning devices (2 sets) and they make little difference.  Any suggestions?  My RCA NOS bottles don't make a peep.

[JakeJ]

Sell 'em on eBay and buy good tubes with the proceeds.

[rajacat]

catastrofe,

Sorry about the OT, but how about a review of your Tram 2?   Maybe in another thread??

-Roy

[catastrofe]

Sell 'em on eBay and buy good tubes with the proceeds.

Well, Sophias are supposed to be good tubes...

[parr3n1]

Jakej, Wow, how could you as a facilitator suggest that he sell microphonic tubes? Is that really what you are suppose to do with junk? Pass it on to the next poor soul. That's offensive.

[jtwrace]

Jakej, Wow, how could you as a facilitator suggest that he sell microphonic tubes? Is that really what you are suppose to do with junk? Pass it on to the next poor soul. That's offensive.

It's OK to sell as long as you disclose the issue. 

[rollo]

I picked up some lightly used Sophia 45s to try in my Tram2 preamp.  These things are so microphonic that if I cough or sneeze from 12' away, it sounds like a gong through my system.  Same result when playing loud musical passages and hitting "pause".

I believe most of the issue is their shape, which seems to exacerbate airborne vibrations.  I tried Herbie's RX tuning devices (2 sets) and they make little difference.  Any suggestions?  My RCA NOS bottles don't make a peep.

A bad tube is a bad tube. The previous owner should not have sold them to you . I would look to get my money back. Sophia makes wonderfull tubes , stuff happens and usually during shipping. too bad for you, try and get the money back.


charles

[Herbie]

Direct heated triodes like 45 tubes tend to be a little microphonic, but shouldn't ever be so terrible.

You might check that the pin receptacles are snug (pinch them lightly with needlenose pliers if necessary), and maybe damp the sockets a little with Permatex Blue RTV Silicone Gasket Maker (available at auto parts stores).

If the integrity of internal parts is damaged with these tubes, however, there may be nothing you can do except return them or cross the dealer or person who sold them to you off your "favorites" list.

Steve Herbelin
Herbie's Audio Lab

[JakeJ]

Hmm...apparently my joke didn't carry itself well.  Perhaps my mood was a bit dark at that particular moment?

I have a host of tubes purchased from "reputable" sellers that ended up being microphonic or, in some cases just sonic, junk.  I'm saving them up to take to the range for target practice.

Apologies for the bad joke.

On a positive note, Herbies tube dampers have cured some microphonic tubes and made them usable.

Herbie, unless the rules have changed posting a "hawk" for your own products in the "public" circles is verboten.  I will give you some time to edit your post before sending it to the bin.  Due to one of the very first threads in my circle needing severe pruning and the fact that the manufacturers (AC sponsors) that participated seem to no longer post in this circle I am overly sensitive to it.

Actually instead of a bad joke I should have suggested your products.

Have a great day and a better tomorrow,Jake

[Herbie]

Sorry, JakeJ. I didn't mean to "hawk" a product, but to provide a suggestion, as asked for by the original thread poster, who had invited me to comment on this thread. I have sent the suggestion by personal message and edited the suggestion out of the post.

(I guess I forgot that being a vendor disallows me from being a regular human being also.)

Steve Herbelin
Herbie's Audio Lab

[JakeJ]

I thank you and I apologize, it's a "house" rule, not mine specifically.

I have broken a rule or two myself when I started this circle.  Besides the controversial "SS vs. Tubes" thread mentioned before there is a tube vendor recommendation thread that is a sticky at the front of the circle.  Originally people posted about positive experiences but also vendors that were less than trustworthy (read ripoffs).  This posting of bad experiences is in violation of the "No Dirty Laundry" and I had to prune all that out.  I still think that is a disservice to the membership and always will.

As I stated I really wish I had had the good sense to post a suggestion about your products and not a joke in bad taste.  I'll post no lame excuse for my lack of taste and commonsense.

I guess the best way to make it up is buy some product!     Oh, and one quick question, is the blue Permatex heat resistant?  I thought it was the red that was.  I ask because we use it at work on some of our hot oil piping and it's rated -65 F to 650 F.  This is the stuff here -http://www.permatex.com/products/automotive/automotive_gasketing/gasket_makers/auto_Permatex_High-Temp_Red_RTV_Silicone_Gasket.htm

[rbwalt]

love when people are penny wise and pound foolish. if you want great reliable tubes why not get them from roger at music reference/ram labs. if he does not have what you want he can get them. i mean roger wrote the book on tube testing and as far as i am concerned he is #1.

rob.

ps. you get what you pay for. live and learn a guess.

[catastrofe]

love when people are penny wise and pound foolish. if you want great reliable tubes why not get them from roger at music reference/ram labs. if he does not have what you want he can get them. i mean roger wrote the book on tube testing and as far as i am concerned he is #1.

rob.

ps. you get what you pay for. live and learn a guess.

Rob, your post is absolutely worthless.  Thanks for sharing.

[Herbie]

is the blue Permatex heat resistant?  I thought it was the red that was.

Hi, JakeJ. Permatex Blue RTV Silicone Gasket Maker (regular or "Sensor-Safe" version) is heat resistant to 500 degrees F., which easily handles the heat of almost any audio application. Blue is sonically a lot better than red, black, and other varieties for damping micro-vibrations. It's very effective and extremely sonically neutral. Though it makes a permanent bond, you can use it for damping capacitors, sockets, even small-signal vacuum tubes.

Steve
Herbie's Audio Lab

[JakeJ]

Thanks, Steve.  I had no idea of one being better than another for vibration but it does make sense as they are different formulas.  I gather the blue is the more visco-elastic than the others.  Good info though as there have been instances when installing sheet type materials that are a tough fit it would have been easy-peasy to just squirt in some blue RTV.

Again apologies for the the forced censoring.

I will however say again I have tried several of your products and all have had positive effects.

[rbwalt]

hahaha. yea right. maybe to you to it was.

[JakeJ]

hahaha. yea right. maybe to you to it was.

  To what are you referring?

[catastrofe]

  To what are you referring?

Jake, I'm sure he's referring to my comment that his previous post was absolutely worthless. Of course, he further validated that by his second post.  As a moderator, maybe you can impress on our junior member friend that the purpose of this forum is the sharing of meaningful information, not dive bombing threads with inane and useless comments.

[JakeJ]

Thanks, catastrofe, I didn't go back far enough to catch that.

rbwalt,
Please try to be less insulting in the tone of your posts.  It goes along way to beefing up your cred with the membership plus you won't get insulting responses when you have a serious question or issue with your system down the road.  Not to mention it'll keep your posts from getting binned when they are obviously not helpful.  Thank you.