[Glen]

Has anyone tried Herbie's tube damping products?

http://herbiesaudiolab.home.att.net/

Any thoughts?

Thanks...........

[some young guy]

I've used several different products from Herbie's over the years. IMHO they all work very well, plus Steve has a 90 money back guarantee so there's not much risk in trying them out. He is a great guy to deal with and he has always stood behind his products. I highly recommend calling and talking to him.

[TheChairGuy]

yes, very good products...Steve is a swell fella', too.  Leave time on the phone with him - he's a talker 

John

[Wind Chaser]

They are one of the best cheap tweaks that really make a positive contribution to the improvement of your system and not a mere change to the sound.  Elsewhere I recently commented that a few dollars comparatively spent on tube dampers made a far greater improvement in the sound of my system than a $2000.00 power cord.

For power cord fanatics and guitars fans here's a quick little lesson on power cords that anyone can master.

[BrianM]

For power cord fanatics and guitars fans here's a quick little lesson on power cords that anyone can master.

 

Now how power chords work is something so simple even I can understand.  Just make sure they're highly distorted.

[SET Man]

Hey!

   Yup, they work. Got 2 in my pre on 12AU7 tubes.

   This one tweak/accesory that I didn't have to ask myself twice if I've heard any difference after the first listen.
 
   Simple, effective and relatively cheap. Very rare thing in today's  audio world full of mumbo jumbo voodoo tweaks and accessories.

   Give some a try. I think he offer money back so if you don't like the change just sent them back.

Take care,
Buddy

[Tweaker]

They don't work for me. I have some sized for small signal tubes (6922, etc) I'd be happy to sell if interested. they're the older style with a plastic ring and translucent damping thingies.

[gus6464]

What do tube dampers do when they wrap around the tube? Does it have something to do with distortion or something?

[mdconnelly]

Definitely go with his Ultrasonic C-ring tube dampers that use the titanium ring.   I suspect they're much better than his earlier teflon-based dampers or other permutations of these.  I never tried the earlier products, but the Ultrasonics do make a nice difference on my EE Minimax phono pre tubes.

[some young guy]

Definitely go with his Ultrasonic C-ring tube dampers that use the titanium ring.   I suspect they're much better than his earlier teflon-based dampers or other permutations of these.  I never tried the earlier products, but the Ultrasonics do make a nice difference on my EE Minimax phono pre tubes.

Yes, they're definitely better than the originals. I still like the PEEK models as well.

[Parnelli777]

Can't hurt to try these. They don't cost much, and they're probably just as good or better than any that cost much more. I'm not sure if they made a positive or negative change in my system. The only reason for using titanium in those things is to charge more money for them. Imagine that

http://cgi.ebay.com/4-TUBE-AMP-DAMPERS-FOR-KT88-KT66-TUBES-KT-88-KT-66_W0QQitemZ350031283981QQihZ022QQcategoryZ64629QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

[Glen]

Thanks for your comments everyone 

I agree, for the money - I really can't loose on trying them.

Is there anything else worth trying from Herbie's site ? (from a quick glance, they look to be a little more flighty)

[satfrat]

Herbies little baby booters are great for DAC's & other ultralight components like the Trends amps and USB transports just to name a few.



I also like these Big Fat Black Dots. I originally bought these for under my sub but found that I like Audiopoints better. I'm using them now under a 2" x 14" x 18" marble platform for mass loading my sub. They hopefully keep the marble from resonating too much. Seems to be working as i can stand figurines on my sub now w/o them vibrating off. 

Cheers,
Robin

[Gordy]

Can't hurt to try these. They don't cost much, and they're probably just as good or better than any that cost much more. I'm not sure if they made a positive or negative change in my system. The only reason for using titanium in those things is to charge more money for them. Imagine that

http://cgi.ebay.com/4-TUBE-AMP-DAMPERS-FOR-KT88-KT66-TUBES-KT-88-KT-66_W0QQitemZ350031283981QQihZ022QQcategoryZ64629QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

If you want to try simple O-rings, you can pick up a box of 10 - 50 Viton O-rings (size and rockwell rating dependent) for $10 from McMaster-Carr.  They're good for 400F.  Personally, I preferred the Herbies old style when I compared them but, you can't beat the price!

[TheChairGuy]

Robin/satfrat,

It's generally (not universally, of course) agreed that rigid coupling is best for speakers and I have to concur.  Among all the Herbie's products, the Big Fat Black Dots were the only throwaway.  It immediately and seriously degraded the overall sonics under my speakers.

Speakers, subwoofers too, need be rigidly coupled.  The rest of the audio chain is somewhat more debateable....de-coupling of some seems to work best for me on the rest of the chain.

I replaced the BFBD's with rigid brass toes and have been eternally pleased since 

John

[satfrat]

Robin/satfrat,

It's generally (not universally, of course) agreed that rigid coupling is best for speakers and I have to concur.  Among all the Herbie's products, the Big Fat Black Dots were the only throwaway.  It immediately and seriously degraded the overall sonics under my speakers.

Speakers, subwoofers too, need be rigidly coupled.  The rest of the audio chain is somewhat more debateable....de-coupling of some seems to work best for me on the rest of the chain.

I replaced the BFBD's with rigid brass toes and have been eternally pleased since 

John

Well John, we don't learn til we try, right? For me,,, and I know Double Ugly will agree seeing how he was my motivation, I like Audiopoints under everything in my system, both speaker and component. The only reason I won't use them under my smaller gear is I can't when using a power cord that weights twice as much as the gear it's connected to. I need all the grip I can get for that gear and Herbies footers give it to me. 

Cheers,
Robin

[Double Ugly]

The only reason I won't use them under my smaller gear is I can't when using a power cord that weights twice as much as the gear it's connected to.

Place a sonic rock atop 'em; problem solved. 

[satfrat]

The only reason I won't use them under my smaller gear is I can't when using a power cord that weights twice as much as the gear it's connected to.

Place a sonic rock atop 'em; problem solved. 

I was waitin' for ya to suggest trying an upside down Audiopoint.