Ceramic tube sockets

[ampmike]

Hey guys,are ceramic tube sockets considered to be a upgrade or do most of you dislike them?Just was not sure if they tend to be noisier .mikey

[M Fowler]

I use beldon mostly. Many audio builders use the ceramic type or expensive teflon sockets.

[Cantplay]

Azuma ceramic sockets have a really good grip, but I worry about the ceramic ringing.

I really like teflon sockets for that reason. The only downside to teflon sockets is that the pins on the bottom are stubby.

I also like the vintage brown bakelite sockets.

John

[Structo]

I read somewhere that although the ceramic sockets are rugged and rarely get carbon tracks from arcing, that they tend to add to microphonics in a guitar amp, particularly in a combo amp.
Because they are such a hard material they transfer sonic vibrations to the tube.

That being said, I have used them in a couple low powered amps and haven't really noticed any problem.

Belton or Micalex are the old standbys that a lot of guys use.

[ampmike]

That explains my mojo twin reverb built rings like a hurricane.i had a few things left to do and was hoping they would fix it.Usually I just start grappling tubes till I get the right one to stop the ringing,but that was the only amp I ever put ceramics in.Im going to just get the teflons from now on,thanks gentleman,Mikey

[M Fowler]

Teflon sockets are too expensive for me.

[alvarezh]

The seem to go from US$39.99 to US$4.00.

Here are the cheapest I have found:

http://diyhifisupply.com/catalog/46?sor ... rder=Price

Have not used these, nor any.

Cheers!

[iknowjohnny]

Can't imagine not using Belton ! I've swapped tubes in some of them 100's of times without the pins getting loose. They're as good as it gets IMO.

[mark enger]

Mike i use ceramic for the powertubes and plastic- like shield based for pre-amp tubes works great for me,

[bal704]

What does ceramic 'ringing' mean?

[cbass]

A lot of people say ceramic sockets are more microphonic than others

[Aurora]

'People' say a lot of things.... not necessearly correct...
If ceramic sockets were to introduce microphonics. you can be absolutely sure that the HiFI Audiophools would have banned them.....
sure - they are using teflon, but only 'cause it 'sounds soooo much better, - less haze, - more transparent....'...
AHHH ... the road to Nirvana is a narrow one, indeed.....

[Cantplay]

Audiophiles don't usually put their amps inside their speaker cabinets either.

Some tubes, and some circuits are sensitive to microphonics, some less so.

If you find improvement from adding a tube damper, you might also benefit from a less resonant socket, or some chassis damping.

John

[Cygnus X1]

I use ceramics just because they are readily available from where I buy most of my parts.
Two issues:
Unused pin sockets rattle if not tightened down.
(Which of course may not be due to ceramic, just overall quality).
And an occasional cracked socket if I mess up.

[Leo_Gnardo]

The only problem I've found with ceramic octal sockets is a propensity to break the locating pin on the tube in the socket. Can only guess the fit is a little too tight - no wiggle room - so if the tube tilts the locating pin snaps.

Ceramic 9 pin sockets - no trouble at all.