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Advice on a tube tester

Well I just got kicked off Facebook for the weekend so I'll probably be active here.  Not sure if that is a plus or a minus for Audiogon.  😎

I'm looking to buy my first tube tester.  I want to be able to identify bad tubes, verify readings on "NOS" or "used, measures like new" in tubes I buy, and I need to sell off a bunch of tubes and I'd like to be able to test them before I sell them.  Selling a bad tube, refunding the money, leaves me out shipping, a lot of work and 3 good tubes in limbo. 

So I'm looking at a B&K 707/747 or a hickok 539A or similar, mostly just based on what I see that fits my needs and seems to be $500 or less.  I see tested and calibrated tube testers for $1500 on ebay but I think I can get by for a lot less.

Tubes I have to test are 6l6 series, EL84, OA3/4, 6922, WE396, KT88 and maybe a few others.  it would be nice to test 300B/350B tubes but I think most testers doen't do that. 

So I'd appreciate guidance from people who have been testing tubes for a while.

Thanks,

Jerry

carlsbad
carlsbad's avatar
carlsbad OP
1,551 posts
 

Thanks @petg60 .  Which TV-7 did you have?  Do you know what the differnce is between the TV-7 A/U, B/U, C/u and D/U is?  

petg60
1,486 posts
 

I had the 7B/U, the only one different, if i am not wrong, was the 7D/U which had an extra range (F) for higher transconductance tubes. The other difference is that the later ones had more ferrite beads attached to the wires going to the tube sockets, thus eliminating oscillation (especially when measuring 6dj8 family tubes). 

Another nice feature from this family of testers was that you could test a tube for noise, as the tube could pass all tests (short, leakage, trans) but could be noisy on one or both channels.

It was pretty good and straightforward to operate.

gregdude
222 posts
 

Guy on YouTube called blueglow electronics may be of assistance 

carlsbad's avatar
carlsbad OP
1,551 posts
 

Thanks @gregdude I've watched his good videos.  He likes TV7.

@petg60 thanks for the details.  Turns out the D/U version is specially changed to address 6DJ8 tubes--which is half the tubes in my favorite amp....so that would be worth finding.

Jerry

 

tomcy6's avatar
tomcy6
2,685 posts
 

If you want something more modern that doesn’t use 1950s technology and was probably made in the 50s, check out these people:

www.maximatcher.com

 

You’ll need separate testers for power and preamp tubes, which may give you more accurate readings. The cost for both the pre and power tube testers will be up around $2,000, but you should be able to recoup the cost when you’re finished with them.

They’re up in Washington so you can give them a call and judge for yourself if these are the right testers for you.

 

The Amplitrex mentioned in an earlier post is considered by some to be the best tester available today:

https://amplitrex.com/

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