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the smell of a new set of output tubes burning in for the first time?? I just received my Penta Labs KT88 solid plates and installed them on arrival from work. It is late so I cant really turn them up and am only listening at a very very low volume. I won't have a chance to really hear them until the weekend and I won't be home until 8 AM Saturday as I'm working a 17 hour shift from Friday Afternoon into Sat morning. Sigh, Oh well, Sunday will be an all day affair...
Greg
Follow Ups:
GregS,I happen to like- in moderation- some kinds of electronic smells. I haven't noticed output tube aroma from my MC240 or D-115, but my old Marantz 2235 receiver has this kind of warm plastic smell that somehow 30 years later still sends me a kind of reassuring "new gear" aroma. It's as though you get in your 1995 XJS and it still smells like you'd just now written a cheque for $75,000.
My MX110 too has a nice olfactory aura- but it's not electronic- the walnut cabinet was polished after refinishing with beeswax and a touch of linseed oil and when the tubes warm the cabinet it seems almost 18th Century.
I wonder if the output tube aroma could be hot plastic tube sockets?
At the risk of sounding barmy, I also like the smell of old cameras. My 1975 Nikon FM also still has this great "new camera" smell with a soupcon de actual 35mm film- and old Leicas and Hasselblads have this too. Newer electronic cameras with plastic cases and lens bodies don't seem to.
However, old violin and classical guitar cases are nasty and I never smelt anything digital that had any appeal whatsoever. My nose is definitely analogue.
Audio smells, Other: My tabby was obsessed for months with the new box I bought for my ARC LS-3 preamp- rubbing against it, sleeping on it, leaning on the side- it must've smelt like some big tom in Minneapolis.
I'm not sure, but I think in 5 years this is the first thread with audio aromas considered in the positive !
Cheers,
LOL, nice post. I'll have to keep my eye out for the P.C.B next time in in Macys.
Greg
New Electro-Harmonix power tubes do tend to smell when hot. I've wondered if it was the cement used to attach base to the glass, but it may be the paint they use to silkscreen. The smell does seem to subside when the ugly lamb (I still think it looks like a monkey) logo changes colors.JJ's red logo paint gets darker and Ei's chalky print turns brown too. But JJ's don't smell too strong and Ei's or SED's don't smell much in comparison.
The smelliest tube of all time is RCA 1614 metal tube for me. I used a set of NOS ones on my McIntosh MC30 thinking I'd be authentic, but boy did they make my eyes water.
I had pretty much the same experience when I installed some of the old metal RCA 6L6 tubes in my amp. They were NOS and when they got warmed up for the first time it was rather intense for a while. My guess is that since the entire tube is painted there is a lot more paint getting hot than the just the silk screen writing on the other tubes. Plus those babies were from the late 30's I think. So the paint was maybe 70 years old.
roN
I must have a weak & old nose. I do not smell anything from a tube. I can get a whiff of old dust burning off from an older amp before cleaned.I should have quite a few dusty vintage amps here Saturday evening to start-up, clean & restore. A pair of 1950 Stancor 807 triode monoblocks are first on the list. Anyone ever heard of Stromberg Carlson monoblocks with a quad of 6L6 tubes each? These should be fun.
Jimmy,How about a Stromberg-Carlson AP80 150 watt monoblock to wet your whiskers?
Check out this web site: www.montagar.com/~patj/ap80.htm. A push-pull parallel design with 6550's. Awesome!
Regards,
I get curious about how my new set of outputs tubes, supposedly burned in and matched, smell new for about two hours when first installed. Shouldn't the smell be gone from the burn-in?????
Hi Dave, that is an excellent point that you have just made!! These tubes were supposedly matched before shipping. Maybe that smell lasts for longer then a couple of hours? I really don't know. I don't understand why new production tubes should be matched, I mean they should all be somewhat identical no? But I do the matched bit anyway. This phenomenon occurs in all the tubes that I have bought be it small signal tubes or power tubes for both my stereo and guitar amps.
Greg
"Maybe that smell lasts for longer then a couple of hours?"Sometimes it does, and also be aware that after a few hours you get used to the smell and may not notice it anymore.
"I don't understand why new production tubes should be matched, I mean they should all be somewhat identical no?
No. Variances in cathode current and Gm on new production tubes (or NOS) can be very large. 50% differences aren't all that unusual.
"the smell of a new set of output tubes burning in for the first time?? "
Are you saying that because I enjoy this hobby that I don't have a life? I rather think that this hobby enhances my life and makes me a more relaxed and pleasant person to be around. You are the one who needs to get a life for posting snide remarks such as that. I guess miserable people like you wouldn't understand the simple pleasures in life such as the aforementioned aroma.
Yup. Love the smell of my EICO 2050 amp when it's up to temp. Hot glass and hot iron :-)Brings back lots of memories for this guy.
Cheers,
"Hot glass and hot iron :-)"
Yes sir, that is what I'm talking about. It kind of reminds me of a cold winters day in front of the fireplace.
:)
Greg
Kidding aside, I get unnerved by the smell that some new tubes put off. I always worry about a bum tube taking out an output transformer. To each his own - enjoy!
I must admit that I do get nervous when putting in a new set of power tubes and the smell does cause a little bit of worry. After 30 minutes or so that fear subsides and I just kick back.
Regards
Greg
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