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What means EH-G
First, this is always a gold pin version available,
for all tubes that have the -G in
the part number.
Second, for the big triodes, it has additionally
a gold grid, and ceramic sockets.
Some info about Gold
grids: Improving upon standard
300B grids, which are typically made of pure nickel, the gold plating
reduces grid current and adds effective improvements to the overall
grid function. Given that all triode power amps draw some amount
of grid current whether they're playing softly or at full blast, this
stabilizing effect will offer enhanced sound and durability. So go for
the gold!
Some info on Gold pins:
The question is asked sometimes, why gold pins are necessary. When you
feel that gold connections sound better, this is confirmed by many listeners.
From the electrical point of view, it can be explanied as well. In case
your amplifier has gold plated tube sockets, it is highly recommended
to take gold plated tube bases as well.
Here are the combination possibilities you can
make, and the results of it.
Please note, for good language, and for best
understanding this text, the part on the tube is not the tube socket!
The tube socket is the part in the amplifier,
the tube base is the part on the tube.
Please keep this in mind very good when reading the below table.
Amplifier sockets
|
Tube bases
|
Result |
Gold plated
|
Gold plated
|
Perfect option. Contact surface will stay clean for amplifier
lifetime
|
Gold plated
|
Non-Gold
|
Contact corrosion
on amplifier sockets is possible, where the gold layer of the amplifier
socket will slowly disappear. Considered no main problem, when you
clean the tube pins every 5 years with contact cleaner. |
Non-Gold
|
Non-Gold
|
Not ideal.
Contact corrosion on tubes or tube base is possible. Tube pins must
be checked and cleaned sometimes. Specially with older amplifiers
(like 30 years or more) this will likely become a problem. Cracks
or whisker sounds can results from this, and are hard to locate.
It is better to prevent corrosion, then having to clean it afterwards.
Pin cleaning must be done every 2 years to prevent corrosion. |
Non-Gold
|
Gold plated
|
Perfect option.
Some small corrosion can take place here, but any corrosion will
be on the tube pins only. This will be visible as darkened stripes
on the tube pins. The "good" part of this is, the gold
is an inert material, meaning it will sacrifice itself, and by this
keep clean the tube socket in the amplifier. Even when the amplifier
sockets were corroded, the gold layer of the tube pins will change
this corrosion in clean metal again. This is called "reduction"
by chemists. It means any oxide on the amplifier sockets is transferred
into clean metal again, but for that the gold layer disappears partially.
These are the darkened stripes you see. These can be wiped off again
with good contact oil. Since you change the tubes from time to time
anyway, this is the best solution, specially for preamplifier tubes,
like 12AT7, 6SN7 and similar. These are in the low signal level
part of the amplifier and are more susceptible against noise problems
as the end tubes. |
Warning: We get send back tubes sometimes
with contacts "treated" with special, expensive contact
material, that is best described as a mixture of silicon grease
and very fine silver powder. You can buy this expensive stuff
in little bottles from some dealers. This may seem like a nice
idea, but is has many disadvantages, and we want to have nothing
to do with this.
Reported problems
are:
- Grid leakage,
due to creapage along the tube base. This will result in heavy
bias errors, and burned down tubes. You have no guarantee if
this happens.
- This can can
make the amplifier socket dirty, conductive between the pins.
This will result in a repair.
Conclusion:
When you have already used this...
remove it!
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