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Benefit of Tube Dampers/Coolers on 6H30?

A quick search of the forums led me to the belief that the effectiveness of tube dampers and coolers is dependent on the tubes used.

I'm auditiioning an Ayon CD-2, and want to really hear what it's capable of before deciding to keep it (which I'm leaning toward anyway).

I'm curious about how beneficial dampers and coolers are on 6H30 tubes. And if they are helpful, which to use? I saw Mrtennis recommended the EAT coolers/dampers (http://www.elusivedisc.com/prodinfo.asp?number=MHEATDAMP)in another thread, and he stated they tamed some of the mid/treble glare in his unit, which is exactly the issue I have with the performance of the CD-2 right now. OTOH, it seems Herbie's halos (http://herbiesaudiolab.home.att.net/)are the most popular choice, although I sense the EATs are fairly new.

Then there are these, with a choice of brass or copper: http://www.audiotubes.com/damper.htm

These, which look very much like the EATs, but cheaper: http://www.partsconnexion.com/Advertising/audiogon/pearl.html

These for the *really* brave: http://www.realhamradio.com/liquid-cooling.htm

And I recently saw some coolers/dampers somewhere that looked like the EAT and pcX, but longer, covering almost the entire tube, although I can't find them now.

I'm a bit lost. Are any of these products superior to the others? Do any of them change the sound in different ways than the others? Would it be beneficial to combine products, such as Herbie's and the EAT on the tubes?

Are the 6H30 tubes so good they don't suffer from microphonics and other common tube characteristics such that the use of any of these devices would render little if any beneift?

Thanks to all for your thoughts.

HC
aggielaw
samhar
1,034 posts
 
Since this thread started I purchased a C/J Act 2 (6H30p) that outperformed my previous Aesthetics Calypso (12AX7, 6922) and for many months I have been satisfied with the improved, dynamics, extension and inner detail the Act 2 brought to my system.
In an attempt to change/improve I rolled in some Electro Harmonix 6H30pi's that were fuller in the mids but less extended and dynamic than the stock Sovteks a trade-off I wasn't willing to make so the Sovteks went back in.
I'd held back from trying NOS Reflector 6H30p-DR because so many have said they weren't a big improvement if any improvement at all.

Eee3
You are correct on many counts!
I made a blanket statement without full knowledge/experience and to any that may have been negatively effected I apologize. (I apologized to Mr Tennis months ago for a related statement)
The NOS '83 Reflector 6H30p-DR's are an improvement over the other 6H30p tubes in my C/J Act 2 and by no small amount!!! I think the difference is comparable to the differences between a Sovtek 6922 and an Amperex US 7308 PQ White Label in all respects.

Aggielaw
If you haven't tried the NOS DR's it may solve what was bothering you or simply improve what you already like, they added a good amount of "fullness" as well as dynamics and extension to my system.
eee3
214 posts
 
Samhar, thanks for your response. I appreciate your honesty in admitting you had made a hasty judgment,a lot of folks would not have done that. So for that kudos to you! The only thing I was asking you to do was make a fair comparison.
When I started in this hobby 25+ yrs. ago, all I wanted to do was hear good music through good equipment( or at least the best I could afford) In that time, I have found that there're things (tweaks)you can do to improve the sound of your system that are cost effective or not as expensive as going to the next component in the upgrade path. Inserting good tubes(Nos) is one of them and the 6h30 dr's are an example of that.
When I decide to participate in one of these forum threads, I do it only to impart my experience and knowledge( what little I have)and to help someone gain the same benefits or improvement in their system that I have. I think that's what this forum was created to do and I think that's what most folks who participate intent is as well.
Unfortunately, I think most folks who don't think that the 6h30 dr's make that much of difference have only tried them in amps (and I will admit that in amps the difference is not as dramatic) or did as you did made a rush to judgment but in linestages and preamps, the difference is as you put it significant and not by a small amount!
I hope that others will benefit from your experience as well.
arahl
70 posts
 
I've done a lot of tube rolling with my ARC gear and to me 6H30 DR's sound better than the current Russian alternatives. I also prefer ARC's tube rings to Herbie's.
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