The best way to measure a tube.

[Tom620]

Hi,

What is the best way to test the quality of the tubes without a tube tester?

According to Caucasian Blackplate:

The best way to measure a tube is to stick it in the Crack and measure the voltages at 1/5, listen to the amp for noise and distortion, and potentially put a 60Hz signal into the input and measure the AC voltage at pins 1/5.  This will give more reliable results than any tube tester I am aware of. By 1 and 5, I mean terminals 1 and 5, not tube socket pins 1 and 5.

http://www.bottlehead.com/smf/index.php/topic,3501.0.html

I understand this is for the 12au7, but what about the 6080 tube?

[Kris]

for 12au7 see Crack FAQ (pt.10) here: http://bottlehead.com/smf/index.php?topic=4295.0
and as far as 6080 see this: http://bottlehead.com/smf/index.php?topic=6437.msg62978#msg62978.

Cheers,
Kris

[porcupunctis]

Just listen to it.  Best test ever.  You will gravitate to the best tube even if you don't know why.

[Tom620]

Thanks guys