What are you doing today that is Hi-Fi related?

[Synaxis]

What are you doing today that is hi-fi related?

I'm spending my day immersed in my collection of audio tubes (only 1/3 of which are pictured here).

I need to get caught up on recent tube acquisitions that I have not integrated into my collection yet.

I'm going through each one as I carefully clean the glass, clean the pins and inspect the body of the tube.

Each box is opened with care as I log into my spreadsheet:

- Where I found it
- When I bought it
- What it cost
- Difference of mfg vs. what the brand on the tube is
- The markings, construction, any important details
- And a picture of the tube and box to accompany it on the spreadsheet for ease of reference.

It's a kind of meditation for me that I find completely relaxing and enjoy taking my time with.

And yes… I’m still have many more tubes I want to acquire.

This is 1/3rd of my tube collection:

 

[Tabl10s]

Daydreaming.

 

[exupgh12]

listening to music

 

[hopkins]

Reading this thread

 

[racerxnet]

Working, so I can pay for all the fun stuff.

 

[Lee]

I’m building a slide deck on optimizing stereo systems for future audio shows and an Atlanta Audio Club meeting.

I’m also writing the review of Synergistic’s new Ethernet switch and Ramar’s Jewel record weight.

 

[Al M.]

Listening to music. Currently:

The Rake's Progress, neo-classical opera by Igor Stravinsky (composed 1951)
Recording: Stravinsky conducts Stravinsky (Columbia, now Sony, from a 22-CD set)

 

[PierreB]

Looking the KT World Men’s Curling Championship 2025.
Go Canada Go

 

[MarkusBarkus]

...gotta love Canadian curling!

 

[wil]

What are you doing today that is hi-fi related?

I'm spending my day immersed in my collection of audio tubes (only 1/3 of which are pictured here).

I need to get caught up on recent tube acquisitions that I have not integrated into my collection yet.

I'm going through each one as I carefully clean the glass, clean the pins and inspect the body of the tube.

Each box is opened with care as I log into my spreadsheet:

- Where I found it
- When I bought it
- What it cost
- Difference of mfg vs. what the brand on the tube is
- The markings, construction, any important details
- And a picture of the tube and box to accompany it on the spreadsheet for ease of reference.

It's a kind of meditation for me that I find completely relaxing and enjoy taking my time with.

And yes… I’m still have many more tubes I want to acquire.

This is 1/3rd of my tube collection:

View attachment 148474

You’ll know it’s getting out of hand when you start storing them in kitchen cabinets, medicine cabinets, the refrigerator, car glove box…

 

[Golum]

Looking at the pictures of my soon(ish) to be inbound specially made SS amp for my Tobian horns…

 

[Kjetil]

I’ve been making my Montana furniture sturdy enough for my new used SACD player, and trying to make it look Mondrianesque good at the same time.

Not quite there yet. Procrastination is due.

 

[Synaxis]

So I've quickly amassed a multitude of testers and quickly traded off those that either people wanted more than I did or I did not like.

The list:

qty 2 - TV-7s (Dan Nelson updated);
TV10;
Jackson 648P
Hickok 6000 (sold);
Jackson 658-A (just received yesterday)l
TV-2 (traded)l
WE/Hickok 15559 (traded);
I-177-B

Issue: some of the wood ones have a strong 70 years old musty smell which shuts down my ability to breath. With the metal case ones this is not an issue.

Attempted Solution: No matter how much cleaning of the wood case, the issue is the wood on the inside of the case that cleaning doesn't reach.

New Solution: I took out the electronics and have painted the inside with an oder encapsulating Killz spray paint (white) and then will cover it with normal black paint.

Here is what I did yesterday and as of this morning is seems to have completely taken care of the issue!