For matching power tubes, short of a curve tracer, a Maximatcher would be the best and easiest to use. It measures plate current and transconductance at two different plate voltages and has several bias voltages available. At 425V plate, it provides a more "real world" test than most tube testers for 6550 type tubes.
How To Match Power Tubes
Hello posters,
I recently blew a 6550 tube and the associated resister in my ARC amp. I purchased 2 pair of matched EH 6550's from a company which is highly regarded here on Audiogon, and then turned my amp and these tubes over to a very highly regarded technician to replace the resister and install the tubes. The technician tested the tubes before installation and called me to say that they were very poorly matched. He said he could get them to bias, but they wer so far off from proper matching, that they would never sound good. He then spoke with the tube supplier on my behalf, who sent him two additional matched pairs which were properly matched. Had I not taken the amp to the technician I would have never known that the tubes were not matched, and I would have thought that EH tubes were not as good as the Swetlanas that were in the amp previously.
Given this experience, I no longer trust that tube sellers are going to carefully match tubes, and I would like to purchase a tube testor which is capable of makeing the measurements necessary to determine if tubes are properly matched. I would definitley like to be able to measure and match 6550's and KT88's. Can anyone reccomend a particular brand and model of tube testor which will handle these tube types? The second question is, which measurements must be made to properly match power tubes. Third, do signal tubes such as 6922's need to be matched in preamps, and if so, is there any brand and model of tube testor that can handle most of the tube types that we are likely to encounter in todays amps and preamps. From what I have read, it appears that Hiccock was the ultimate tube testor in its day, but I have seen many different Hiccock models offered for sale over the years and I do not know which models handle which tube types.
Let me thank you in advance for your assistance and for reading this very long winded question.
Thanks,
Dennis
I recently blew a 6550 tube and the associated resister in my ARC amp. I purchased 2 pair of matched EH 6550's from a company which is highly regarded here on Audiogon, and then turned my amp and these tubes over to a very highly regarded technician to replace the resister and install the tubes. The technician tested the tubes before installation and called me to say that they were very poorly matched. He said he could get them to bias, but they wer so far off from proper matching, that they would never sound good. He then spoke with the tube supplier on my behalf, who sent him two additional matched pairs which were properly matched. Had I not taken the amp to the technician I would have never known that the tubes were not matched, and I would have thought that EH tubes were not as good as the Swetlanas that were in the amp previously.
Given this experience, I no longer trust that tube sellers are going to carefully match tubes, and I would like to purchase a tube testor which is capable of makeing the measurements necessary to determine if tubes are properly matched. I would definitley like to be able to measure and match 6550's and KT88's. Can anyone reccomend a particular brand and model of tube testor which will handle these tube types? The second question is, which measurements must be made to properly match power tubes. Third, do signal tubes such as 6922's need to be matched in preamps, and if so, is there any brand and model of tube testor that can handle most of the tube types that we are likely to encounter in todays amps and preamps. From what I have read, it appears that Hiccock was the ultimate tube testor in its day, but I have seen many different Hiccock models offered for sale over the years and I do not know which models handle which tube types.
Let me thank you in advance for your assistance and for reading this very long winded question.
Thanks,
Dennis