Know Your Bias
Different Types of Amp Bias Just like the idle of your car may need adjusting when a major change is done to the engine, new power tubes need their idle (the “bias”) adjusted to make…
How to Get the Best EF86 – A Tube Comparison
The EF86 vacuum tube is a high gain pentode designed to amplify low-level audio signals. It is typically used as a preamp in audio equipment and instrument amplifiers. Because of its design, the EF86 is…
What it Takes to Make a Tube Amp
Atma-Sphere is world renown for fantastic their OTL amplifiers. In this video they use stop-motion animation to provide us with a look into how the award-winning Atma-Sphere M-60 power tube amp is hand assembled. If…
Birth Of The Shuguang EL34-B Vacuum Tube
During a recent visit to China we dropped by the Shuguang tube factory located in the city of Changsha, Province of Hunan. On every visit to the factory we ask to take photos and video…
Cryo Tube Controversy – The Chilling Truth
A number of years ago we started to see more and more about cryo “treatment” of vacuum tubes. We read through all the marketing and tried to figure out how this could improve a vacuum…
Cryogenic Treatment of Tubes: An Engineer’s Perspective
A re-post from Phil Taylor of Effectrode.com As an electronics engineer and someone who’s in the business of designing tube audio equipment (effects pedals) I’ve a burning interest in anything that might help improve the sound…
EMP? It’s NP for the 6C33C-B Tube
If you’re a serious audiophile with tube gear chances are you know the names Balanced Audio Technology or Lamm Industries. Unlike so many other tube amplifier manufacturers, you won’t find KT88, 6550, or 300B output…
Used Vacuum Tubes: Issues To Consider
When shopping for tubes, there are a number of issues to consider such as price, longevity, testing, and tone. Some amps such as the Vox AC-30 can be tough on power tubes, and when power…
Vacuum Tubes: A Brief History
Vacuum tubes, amplifier tubes, or thermionic valves, are the heart of guitar amplification. Even solid state amps are usually designed to emulate the sound of tube amps. But the vacuum tube was actually critical for…
Dr Who and Mullard Vacuum Tubes
History fans will enjoy this nostalgic film advertisement from the the tube (valve) manufacturer Mullard in England. They use English actor Jon Pertwee (Dr Who and The Navy Lark) in this piece about the impact…
