Cryo treated tubes ? Myth or reality ?

[zebra50]

below -312°F

I missed that. That's 82K, which is just above liquid nitrogen point. Not a coincidence - that's very cheap and easy to achieve. I'll pinch a dewar full from my local uni and do some tests.

I guess the trick is not to shock the glass or filaments.

 

[vertiges]

There is another explanation a "bit more technical" here

eD

 

[zebra50]

Nice! Nothing there that we couldn't DIY!

 

[vertiges]

About the Kuhl-tubes : link

- tighter focus from top to bottom
- more holographic 3D soundstage
- more subtle inner resolution extracted from recordings
- tighter bass
- increased dynamic range
- faster transient response
- clearer vocals

I'm disapointed... It doesn't improve the groove of the musicians ! :green:

eD

 

[rodabod]

[quote author="vertiges"]
- more holographic 3D soundstage
- more subtle inner resolution extracted from recordings[/quote]

I smell horse shit.

 

[vertiges]

From here :

SONIC IMPROVEMENTS FROM "CRYO TREATED" TUBES:

"LOWER NOISE FLOOR,lower distortion, extended frequency response at the extremes, greately increased resolution and transparency. You will hear information from the recording you barely, or never heard before, especially at the back of the stage! Bass response is greatly improved, treble is sweeter but more extended. Cryo treated tubes just sound much better and more effortless than a non-treated tube!!!"

eD

 

[vertiges]

I could have searched better, there was already a thread on the subject...

 

[bcarso]

[quote author="zebra50"]
I guess the trick is not to shock the glass or filaments.[/quote]

LOL yes I suspect there will be a change in the sound if you just plunge a tube into LN2 :razz: In fact you will probably hear something right away.

 

[vertiges]

[quote author="bcarso"]
LOL yes I suspect there will be a change in the sound if you just plunge a tube into LN2 :razz: In fact you will probably hear something right away.[/quote]

That reminds a scene of "Terminator 2" when the liquid metal cyborg got frozen by the liquid nitrogen... :wink:

eD

 

[haima]

Recovered tubes from soviet space missions should be the dogs nads

what, like this dog's nads?

poor little guy....

:green:


EDIT! Laika was a girl dog.... SO poor little lady...

 

[vertiges]

How do you now she's dead ? :roll:

eD

 

[guavatone]

[quote author="rodabod"][quote author="vertiges"]
- more holographic 3D soundstage
- more subtle inner resolution extracted from recordings[/quote]

I smell horse shit.[/quote]


my soundstage is now on my credit card?
.....greaaaat!

Now my mixes are worthy of the "holodeck"?
- I smell Vulcan Shit!

 

[bockaudio]

I found no audible or measurable improvements (in a microphone) using the sample cryo tube that was sent to be some years ago.
regards,
DB

 

[bcarso]

Finally some data! Thank you bockaudio (and welcome!).

 

[mrphotodude]

i think my last few girlfriends were cryo treated!
:shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock: :shock:

 

[zebra50]

[quote author="bcarso"]Finally some data! Thank you bockaudio (and welcome!).[/quote]

...and from a knowledgeable source too. Welcome, David.

 

[bockaudio]

Sorry I didn't save or print any of the data it seemed insignificant when there was no before and after difference on measurements. The golden ears could not discern a difference ether.
I wanted it to mean something but it didn't. Capacitor types (in a microphone) make more of a difference.

 

[mattcorsi]

There is a LOT of misinformation in this old thread. Zero degrees Kelvin is also called absolute zero, the temperature at which ALL energy is removed from a material. It is -460F, not achievable per the laws of thermodynamics using thermodynamic means. I studied metallurgy at the University of WA in the Materials Engineering Department years ago and did a lot of experimentation with the crystalline structure of iron and other metals. It is the rapid change in temperature that has an impact on metal (iron). Rapid cooling from a heated state. Look up 3-phase state (liquid, solid, gas) theories that involve temperature and pressure changes) to be specific heating can align the crystalline structure of iron and rapid cooling locks this alignment in place (quenching) which is why steel blades are quenched so they can be sharpened more effectively. Quenching increases hardness and reduces malleability. Cooling slowly from room temperature does nothing to permanently change the molecular alignment. Fixing molecular alignment takes rapid temp change and that would likely shatter the tube glass. In theory, the residual stresses in metal would not change just from cooling and reheating slowly. There is a lot if thermal shrinkage associated with temp variation so cooling could potentially change the stress gradient in metals that are restrained from shrinking or expanding, but in a tube, this seems very unlikely as metal will crack glass if it needs to shrink or grow. If you want great sounding tubes, why not buy great quality tubes, NOS or a few new brands that are making decent quality product?

 

[Brian Roth]

I've been on the "oddball edges" of audiophoolery for decades.....and it's usually a grift.

I feel pretty certain that "super cooling" of vacuum tubes is a grift. Otherwise, why didn't RCA, Sylvania, Mullard et al do it back in the Golden Age? It kinda reminds me of audio cables....sold for hundreds of $$$ per foot...which were dipped into liquid nitrogen AND have marking arrows on the jacket showing "which way they should be plugged into the equipment" because.......that's the way the sound will flow!!

GRIFT....my common comment about such things as well as politics <g>.

Bri

 

[capacitorless]

I've found cryo treated tubes very cold sounding.

Sorry for that one.

Anyways, thanks for the clarity @mattcorsi (and I'm with you @Brian Roth haha!)

edit: Cryogenic Treatment for Tubes - www.thetubestore.com and Cryo Tube Controversy - The Chilling Truth - thetubestore Blog