I need (want, can afford) a tube tester, maybe other simple testing equipment Help me!!!
Please help me find a tube tester. My goal is to be able to do more than "swap tubes" to identify problems such as bad/dying tubes, channel imbalances, etc.
To the extent that it matters, I'm hoping to be able to test typical preamplifier tubes, 12au7, 6922, 6H30P, 6Sn7, etc, power tubes and rectifier tubes would be great if I can also test them.
I'm looking for recommendations for brand/model and also where to buy.
Same thing with regard to what is better for diagnosing versus a decent multimeter (I have this).
Thank you all in advance.
I own an Amplitrex. The best thing about it is how simple it is to use and how easy it is to get both a simple assessment (strong, wesk, bad) and specific measurements to compare with expected numbers. If you are more advanced in your testing needs, it will provide tube tracing. I spoke to a tube expert who owns about a dozen testers, including two Amplitrex machines. His favorite is the eTracer, but it is best for someone testing many tubes at a time and someone who is technically advanced. |
I advocate, if you have tube equipment, AT LEAST a simple compact portable tester, to test the fundamentals rather than stay blind. Seller says it works, asking $80, might take offer People say, you have to have Mutual Conductance. I'm here to tell you, ok, if that's what you want, but I've gotten answers for 42 years out of my Accurate 157, found weak tubes, tubes with shorts, compared 'matched sets' when I buy them, you can get a lot of confidence out of these simple testers.
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I don’t like scroll wheel type, can you get separate booklets for this unit? .............................. this site just popped up, I don't know anything about them, anybody recommend them? you can download this https://vintagetubeelectronics.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/07/Hickok-800-User-Manual.pdf many manuals are here, they open, ready for download https://vintagetubeelectronics.com/tube-tester-manuals/ he restores/calibrates/sells testers this is listed for $370.
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I’ve used the Orange tester and it too is extremely easy to use like the Amplitrex. It does not test as wide a variety of tubes as the Amplitrex and it doesn’t test at full power which stress tests the tube. But, it does weed out bad tubes and it is somewhat of a tough grader; not everything gets a top grade like the TV-7 seems to do. With the Orange you might have to quickly repeat testing because it will often fail a good tube on the first attempt because the tube has not been warmed up enough. Whatever you get, be sure to buy socket savers for the types you will be testing a lot. You will wear out sockets by the act of inserting and pull out the tube, so you want to wear out the socket savers and not the socket on your tester. |
