Acceptable tube Microphonics?

Joe Garfield · 793

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Offline Joe Garfield

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on: August 19, 2020, 09:48:46 AM
Re: 6080 in BH Crack
I’m pretty new to this game so I was just curious what is an acceptable level of tube Microphonics. My amp is on the lower shelf of my night stand and I use my phone as a music player. With the last 2 tubes I got, if I put my phone down on my night stand, the tube rings. With one, if I put my glasses on the night stand it rings. The second one is really bad - even if the headphone cable touches the night stand it rings. I can use and enjoy the first one, but the second one always has me distracted thinking about the ringing.

Returning a $20 tube that costs $6-8 to ship each way seems ridiculous, but so does dealing with the noise.

Thanks for any thoughts/comments :)
« Last Edit: August 19, 2020, 11:08:52 AM by Joe Garfield »

Joe Marri
Modi MB > Crack > HD650


Offline Paul Birkeland

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Reply #1 on: August 19, 2020, 09:49:58 AM
If you're asking about the 6C45PI tubes in the Mainline, this is pretty normal behavior.  If you're talking about the tubes in the SEX amp or the Crack, that would be a little abnormal.


Paul "PB" Birkeland

Bottlehead Grunt & The Repro Man


Offline Joe Garfield

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Reply #2 on: August 19, 2020, 11:11:55 AM
Whoops - it’s the 6080 in the Crack.

Joe Marri
Modi MB > Crack > HD650


Offline Paul Birkeland

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Reply #3 on: August 19, 2020, 11:51:27 AM
Microphonic 6080s aren't as common, but that's certainly something that's pretty hard to screen for in testing.  I would just put some weight on top of the power transformer to keep the amp more settled, and that should reduce what you're hearing.

Paul "PB" Birkeland

Bottlehead Grunt & The Repro Man