Tom Mobley Posted September 9, 2002 Share Posted September 9, 2002 I'm going to pick up a tube tester, those Hickoks and their military versions are expensive. Are the Eico's any good or what brand might be usable? I hit ebay for tube testers and there's a million or so out there. What to do? I'm going to need to test the tubes in the HF-81 I just bought. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOSValves Posted September 9, 2002 Share Posted September 9, 2002 Most EICO testers do not test mutual cunductance which is said to be the most important test. I have Hickok and EICO I like them both and they both test tubes about the same and hold true when in curcuit as to there relative performance against each other with either tester. Hickok's are known to be the best. BK also makes some nice tester. Try dropping Chris Haedt email a line and see what he has available he restores testers and buying one off ebay may still require work to get it to test properly. Good luck Craig ------------------ HH Scott 299 Amp HH Scott LT-110B Tuner HH Scott P-87 Turn Table JVC JL-F50 Turn Table Sony CDP-CA7ES CD Drive 1985 Walnut Heresey I W/Layne Audio Woofers KSW-15 Subs>c> Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Mobley Posted September 9, 2002 Author Share Posted September 9, 2002 Ok, thanks for the info. the Hickoks are expensive, the Eico's are cheap, there is a bunch of other brands too. I'll email Chris, see what he's got. Any other opinions? Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mobile homeless Posted September 9, 2002 Share Posted September 9, 2002 Just as above except something like the TV-7 is going to cost a bit more but is a GREAT tester. IF you are going to get into tubes heavily, it really pays to get a nice tester although they arent always so easy to calibrate. Remember, many of the old testers actually run in tubes as well. As above, wait for a good Mutual Conductance tester. Also, if you ever plan on going single-ended triode, try to find a tester that tests 4-pin tubes, something that all dont do. I have a Hickok 800K which is a version of the 600 series of testers which are a good compromise. Make sure you have the tube measurement list for the settings as well. These can be downloaded. I have the Tube Data lists (both old and new) for the Hickok 600-800 series of testers. I also have the manual, both in .pdf form (the manual explains how to calibrate). See my tester below: Getting a good tester is becoming more difficult and ebay doesnt have as many bargains here compared to three or four years ago. And who knows the condition of the units. I got lucky and someone liteally gave me a unit when I used to post all the time on the SET Asylum. People used to send me things and this very nice guy in California sent me a Hickok 800K that he had calibrated (he even went as far as to send a tube with it he tested, to retest once here to see if anything was off during shipping). As you can see, I was lucky as hell here. I had been borrowing a unit for awhile. It has come in handy more than a few times and if you really start collecting tubes, is the only way to get an idea where you stand. This is one of the best pages on Hickok testers anywhere. A must read if interested in tube testers. http://www2.gdi.net/~padgett/hickok.htm kh ------------------ Phono Linn Sondek LP-12 Valhalla / Linn Basic Plus / Sumiko Blue Point CD Player Rega Planet Preamp Cary Audio SLP-70 w/Phono Modified Amplifier Welborne Labs 2A3 Moondog Monoblocks Cable DIYCable Superlative / Twisted Cross Connect Speaker 1977 Klipsch Cornwall I w/Alnico & Type B Crossover Links system one online / alternate components / Asylum Listing f>s> This message has been edited by mobile homeless on 09-09-2002 at 05:01 PM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Mobley Posted September 9, 2002 Author Share Posted September 9, 2002 interesting page that guy has got up there. Looks like he has the Hickok stuff covered. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike stehr Posted September 9, 2002 Share Posted September 9, 2002 Okay, what about a B+K Dyna-Quick Dynamic Mutual Conductance tube tester? I can aquire one for 75 dollars, it works fine. Didn't Hickock hold the patent for tube testers, and tested true transconductance? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Mobley Posted September 9, 2002 Author Share Posted September 9, 2002 Sounds like a pretty good deal to me. The B&K seem to well thought of. Looks like anything much good is near $300, more if it's been gone over and calibrated. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOSValves Posted September 10, 2002 Share Posted September 10, 2002 Mike do you have a model number for it ?? I can call my friend he's local here and he will give me the scoop on its pro's and con's for you. Craig This message has been edited by NOS440 on 09-10-2002 at 10:22 AM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOSValves Posted September 10, 2002 Share Posted September 10, 2002 Tom, Just noticed what HF-81 did you score ?? This message has been edited by NOS440 on 09-10-2002 at 10:24 AM Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tom Mobley Posted September 10, 2002 Author Share Posted September 10, 2002 Craig, I replied to you about this over in the HF-81 thread. I ran across a guy who has a large amount of old gear, he's selling me this Eico I think because he got another "mint" one. It's not nice looking at all, but apparently works well. I think it's all stock, unmodified. I'll be posting about it when it comes in. Tom Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike stehr Posted September 11, 2002 Share Posted September 11, 2002 Craig, I'll try to get the model # ASAP. I thought I wrote it down, Dammit! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOSValves Posted September 11, 2002 Share Posted September 11, 2002 Mike, Okay I'll be glad to research it for you. My Dad has a BK 707 and its a real nice tester but only tested mutual condunctance on some tubes. Tom, Glad you scored one. There so much of the HF-81 posting going on right now its hard to keep track of who bought what LOL !!!! Craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike stehr Posted September 16, 2002 Share Posted September 16, 2002 Craig, Okay, I picked up this B+K mutual conductance tube tester. It's a model 550. The tube chart is strange, when you look up tubes like 6BQ5, 6CA4, 6EU7, 6DJ8, etc.. it calls for socket 610. The unit only has 52 sockets. I don't understand this, I don't have the manual, but have the tube chart. I wonder if there was a extension socket, or I am missing something here or what. I know I can test 12AX7's and 6L6's so I'll test some of these tonight. The unit works, I've tested tubes on it before. I bought some Amperex 12AX7's off Ebay, The unit matched real close to the test measurements for each tube from the auction. It's just this damn socket 610 trip! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOSValves Posted September 16, 2002 Share Posted September 16, 2002 Are the sockets numbered in anyway on the tester ?? I could call my freind and see if he is familiar with this model. I'm sure he would be. Craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike stehr Posted September 17, 2002 Share Posted September 17, 2002 Well, I just found out I need the B&K 610 test panel for 650, 550, and 500 tube testers. It's a add-on panel. Hopefully I can find one of these! SH*T! Otherwise the unit seems to work well. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
NOSValves Posted September 22, 2002 Share Posted September 22, 2002 Mike, Email Chris Haedt he is the person who repairs the Tube testers right near where I live. He may have the board your looking for he also may have the manual you just never know. cheryl@airpump.com Craig Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mike stehr Posted September 22, 2002 Share Posted September 22, 2002 Thanks Craig, I'll do that. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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