Duende
Criatura
Duende Criatura tube rings considerably reduce
microphonics, distortion and self-oscillation
from audio tubes. They are to be slid around
the top part of the tube where they reduce mechanical
vibrations. The listener will notice improvement
of three dimensional picture, a more controlled
bass and a cleaner soundstage.
The
before mentioned effects are at their best when
the tube ring is sitting around the top part
of the tube. The tube’s ability to radiate
heat will be unaffected.
The
precision-machined Teflon base ring is very
dense which provides excellent damping properties.
They can withstand temperatures of up to 260
degrees, which is much higher than the operating
temperatures of vacuum tubes ranging from 160
to a maximum of 220 degrees. Duende Criatura
tube rings last indefinitely. A
pure titanium clamp is used to provide the stable
pressure over the Teflon ring to increase the
effect. Typically ohmical, tube circuitry is
also sensitive to eddy currents. Unlike other
metal types, Titanium does not cause harmful
eddy currents.
Duende
Criatura tube rings can be used in pre stages,
phase splitters and output stages. Improvement
is recognizable in non-amplifying and high feedback
stages, but sound improvement is at its optimum
in amplifying and low feedback stages. The Duende
Criatura tube rings are available in different
sizes for most tube types. Tube rings can be
easily cleaned in either a dishwasher or with
degreasing soap and hot water.
Product
Review:
Audio
Candy,
Paul Candy at 6moons.com, November 2004
We
all know that vacuum tubes are vulnerable to
air and structure-borne vibrations which can
have negative effects on music playback. Duende
Criatura's Tube Rings are simple Teflon rings
that are slit to expand slightly while slipping
over a tube. There's a groove around the outer
portion which contains a Titanium retainer clamp
to ensure a tensioned fit. Lightweight and flexible,
the manufacturer (who makes jewelry in his non-audiophile
life) claims that Titanium will not induce eddy
currents into sensitive tube circuitry. You
simply slide these dampers over the tube and
seat them at the top portion roughly where the
getter resides. The Teflon can withstand temperatures
up to 260 degrees and will not melt or stick
to the tubes (hey, it's Teflon!). Nor will it
accumulate any dust or alter color. Providing
you position the ring correctly, it will not
affect the tube's ability to dissipate heat
nor alter its operating temperature.
Just
sliding the rings on the input and phase splitter
tubes of my Stingray created immediate benefits.
The soundstage was slightly wider and deeper
and gained sharper focus and greater separation
between performers. It was easier to pick out
subtle details in the music to offering a more
involving listening experience. These effects
were immediately audible even during A/B/A comparisons.
The result was magnified yet again when I slipped
these thermionic prophylactics on the Manray's
EL84s, with the added bonus of deeper, more
powerful bass and a greater sense of dynamic
agility.
Roy Gregory, Hifi +, issue 28 December 2003
Gregory, editor and publisher of the UK hifi
magazine hifi+ tested the tube rings. This is
his conclusion:
Anybody
with a tubeamp, especially an open chassis model
should investigate these plain looking little
rings immediatly....
...They're
now considered essential as far as I am concerned,
and bring new meaning to the term ‘Simply
The Best’."
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