Tv-10 Tester

[thdewitt]

Hello, I have a chance to buy a calibrated TV-10 tube tester.  I am wondering if this is a good tester for testing the tubes I am buying for my Bottlehead equipment.  I am also interested to know if it is straight forward to use.  I mean I can build a bottlehead kit but I don't want to fry my expensive tubes.  The amount I have spent on tubes on Ebay makes me feel like I should make sure I am getting what I pay for.  Also, I want to make sure that if I sell tubes I am giving accurate data on them.

Thanks,
Tom

[galyons]

I have a TV10D/U contract built for the Navy.  It is a great tester, built like a brick $#!thouse.  It is basically an upscale model of the very popular TV-7. The TV-10 is not a very well known tube tester, because there were far fewer of them made, relative to the TV-7 and other testers. 

The TV-10 uses the mutual transconductance as the measure for tube quality. IMO, the most reliable method known for assessing tube quality. I like the  TV-10 better than the TV-7 because it reads the mutual transconductance directly on the meter in micromhos while the TV-7 only reads a relative number on it's meter.

It is fairly easy to use as long as you understand the various controls, can read the tube charts and pay attention to the settings. I would suggest getting the tube charts  in a PDF, print and bind/staple the pages.  This will save wear and tear on the roll chart and ensure the latest  settings for more modern tubes. IMO it is great for BH kit, especially the DHT's.

Hope this helps,
Geary

[thdewitt]

Thank you.  This is good news as this will be pricy but with the cost of tubes may be a good investment.

Tom

[Doc B.]

We use a TV-10 that I bought 25 years ago. Works fine. But I wouldn't pay the crazy money people get for them these days (I paid $50 in 1991 when few people cared about tubes) unless I had a whole bunch of tubes that I bought and sold. If someone has maybe one amp the best tube tester for the tubes used in it is that amp. Just plug the tube in and see how it does current and voltage wise and how it sounds.

[galyons]

We use a TV-10 that I bought 25 years ago. Works fine. But I wouldn't pay the crazy money people get for them these days (I paid $50 in 1991 when few people cared about tubes) unless I had a whole bunch of tubes that I bought and sold. If someone has maybe one amp the best tube tester for the tubes used in it is that amp. Just plug the tube in and see how it does current and voltage wise and how it sounds.

Couldn't agree more. Bought mine about 1997 when they were closing the Alameda Naval Air Station. Think I paid $90, but got 2  RCA 2A3's, 6 Mullard GZ34/5AR4's , 10 or so 6SN7GTWB's and 6 6922's  All new, in the box!  I could use the TV10 as a door stop now and would still have gotten my money out of it!!! 

Cheers,
Geary

[mcandmar]

Unless you are regularly selling tubes its not something you really need, for the most part the "strength" of a tube is a bit academic.

Having said that i bought a TV-7 tester when i was buying/selling tubes on ebay so it got a lot of use, which in my mind justifies the ownership.  There are other testers that are easier to use like the Hickok series, and others that are more accurate and relevant like the digital unit i built but there is something oddly satisfying about warming up the old TV-7.

Having just had a browse on ebay they seem to have gone up in price since i bought mine, you would be better off buying another amplifier for the money some of them are asking.