UltraSonic
Rx Damping Instruments maintain the same microdynamic speed, linearity, and detail of
Herbie's original UltraSonic, while going a subtle step further. Besides reducing microphonic
anomalies, Rx allows a freer musical flow, curing a harsh and
stealthy "electronics factor" or "dryness" that ultimately
ails even some of the most finely honed audio systems. Your tube gear will achieve a fluid,
musical potential like it was designed to do.
Mildly spring-tempered titanium C-ring holds three modified Teflon isolation pads. Each pad holds a Kalrez perfluoroelastomer O-ring against the tube glass.
Herbie's most popular damping instrument, UltraSonic Rx is appropriate for all audio vacuum tubes, readily handling radiant heat up to 520° F (270° C). Scroll down for size listings, from smallest to largest.
UltraSonic Rx-Mini
For sub-miniature
and Nuvistor tubes approximately
3/8" diameter (9.2mm to 10.4mm), including 5703, 6111,
6112, 6020, 6021, 6CW4, 6DS4, 6DV4, 6N16B, 7586, 7587,
7895, 8056, 8058, T3 bulb.
UltraSonic
Rx-Mini: $26.98 ea.
4 or more: $26.29
ea.
UltraSonic Rx-7
For 7-pin
miniature tubes and all tubes approximately 5/8" to
3/4" diameter (16mm to 19mm),
including 0A2, 0B2, 1S5, 12AE6, 12FK6, 12FM6, 12X4, 304B, 3A5, 3S4, 403A/B, 408A, 5591,
5651, 5654, 5654SQ/W, 6005, 6186, 6AK5, 6AK5W, 6AN4, 6AQ6, 6AU6, 6BH6, 6C4, 6ER5, 6FG5, 6FQ5A, 6FS5, 6FY5, 6GK5, 6J1, 6J1P, 6J1P-EV, 6J6, 6N4, 6P17, 6X4, 6Z4, 7543, 9001, DCC90, DL92, EC90,
EF95, M8100, OA2, OB2, SBA6. (Most 7-pin miniature tubes, at about 19mm
diameter [3/4"], can also use UltraSonic 9.)
Fits all
tubes approximately 1" to 1-1/16" diameter (23mm
to 28mm), including metal 12SC7,
5693, "slim" 5Z4, "slim" 6AU4, metal shell 6F6, 6J5, 6R7, metal 6SJ7,
"slim"6SN7, metal 6V6, 6X5.*
With plenty of flex to accomodate a wide range
of tube diameters, fits giant tubes
from 2-3/8" to 3" diameter (60mm to
76mm), including 101J, 102B, wide 211 (Sophia, TJ),
274B (Shuguang, Sophia, Valve Art), 2A3-40W
(JJ), 2A3 Meshplate (Sophia, TJ), 2A3 Globe
Meshplate (Sophia, TJ), 2A3C (Shuguang), 300B (AVVT, E-H, EML,
JJ/Tesla, Sovtek, KR, TJ/Full Music, Western Electric), 300B-XLS
(EML, KR), Meshplate 300B (EML,
Golden Dragon, TJ, Sophia, Shuguang, Valve Art), 300B
Globe Meshplate (Sophia, TJ), 32B, Globe 45 (TJ), EML 45-mesh, 50, 520B, EML
5U4G-Mesh & 5Z3-Mesh, 6C33C
(wide portion of tube), 803, "wide" 805 (Amperex,
Shuguang, TJ), 811A, 813,
wide 845 (Sophia, Shuguang metal plate, TJ), 845B
(Shuguang), F2A, GM70, PX25, ST-18 bulb, ST-19
bulb, T-20
bulb.*
UltraSonic
Rx-65: $32.85 ea.
4 or
more: $31.95 ea.
UltraSonic
Rx-100
With extra-heavy-gauge stainless steel
C-ring and four isolation pads, UltraSonic 100
thoroughly tames microphonics in super-giant
tubes 3-1/2" to 4-5/8" diameter (89mm
to 118mm), including 833, KR
T-1610 (Kronzilla), and tubes using T-36 bulb.
UltraSonic
Rx-100: $40.49 ea.
4 or more: $39.89
ea.
*
Tube
diameters and shapes sometimes vary. To estimate your
tube diameter, just place a wooden or metal ruler
against the side of your tube and "eyeball"
the size – if you align your sight in a straight line to one edge of the tube and then in a straight line to the opposite edge, the measured difference in-between will be very close to the tube's actual diameter. Or measure the circumference and divide by
pi (3.14).
For tubes that fall
in-between UltraSonic sizes, smaller size is the default
recommendation (though either size will work). Tube size
data indicates "maximum" tube diameter; tubes
are often a little smaller than indicated. Titanium
C-rings have some flex to them to accommodate variation in
bulb diameters and can be bent to somewhat smaller or
larger sizes.
Additional
information, including bulb sizes, on most tube types and
brands can be found here:
Changing
gear? UltraSonic Rx isolation pads can be slid
off one titanium C-ring and onto another. If you need a different
size than what you have, spare C-rings are available, so you
don't have to buy a whole damping instrument to change sizes.
Isolation pads are interchangeable among standard sizes
(UltraSonic Rx-Mini thru 50), and amongst heavy-gauge sizes
(UltraSonic Rx-55 thru 100). UltraSonic Rx isolation pads achieve
a full upgrade to "Rx" for standard UltraSonic Damping
Instruments.
Titanium C-Ring
Only (no pads)
UltraSonic Rx sizes Mini thru 65 $3.95 to $9.98 ea. (4 or more, one size: 10% off)
UltraSonic Rx
Isolation Pad
$8.95 ea. (12 or more: $8.49 ea.)
90-day
no-risk trial. If not satisfied, simply return any item within 90
days for a complete refund of the purchase price.
Lifetime
warranty.If anything ever goes wrong, simply
return any Damping Instrument to Herbie's Audio Lab and it
will be repaired or replaced and returned to you at no cost.
Herbie's Audio Lab offers low prices, high value!
-Comments-
Name: Marko Message: I got my first damper yesterday and it appears to have fixed a tube rattle on a Dr. Z Maz-18 that was driving me nuts! Name: Charles Katz Message: Placing Rx tube dampers on the rectifier and output tubes of my SET amp worked wonders adding clarity (sibilance disappeared) and opening up the soundstage. Extremely cost effective and highly recommended. Name: Rosser Clark, Falls Church, VA Message: I have to admit that I was skeptical about how a few little pieces of silicone pressed against the outer glass could make any audible difference. But I had had such good results with your products before that I thought I would give the dampers a try. I just did a major refurb and modification of my Dynaco SCA-35 -- new boards, new tubes, new power supply caps and diodes, etc. After all that, I listened to it a while, and it sounded great. Then I put the tube dampers on (four Preamp UltraSonics for the preamp tubes and four UltraSonic Rx for the power tubes).
I don't know how you do it, but the dampers made more difference than almost all the other new parts combined. The amp went from sounding good, great even, to sounding absolutely magical. There is a coherence to the sound that I have never experienced in my own system. Everything sounds tied together in a very musical way now. In addition, I'm hearing details in familiar pieces that I've never heard before -- I mean a lot of things that are very easy to hear now, that I never knew were there. The separation and 3D placement is also so much better I can hardly believe it. On top of that, the background is much quieter. The only downside that I thought I heard at first was the high frequency transients sounded a little rolled off -- esp the cymbal attack. But after listening a while, it seemed more like that without the dampers the sound was kind of uncontrolled, and one result of that was an overemphasis or ringing of the highs. There is no way I would go back to the sound before. Anyway, I am so happy with the sound with the dampers that my jaw has been dropping.
Thanks again,
Rosser Name: lester Message: The 300b that I have found to be microphonic is 45 mm at the head and 62 mm at the shoulder. The mica is in the head. Is this where I need the dampers?
Webmaster's reply: Damping instruments are effective at either location; by default, placing a damping instrument around the widest part of the tube is recommended.
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