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Item:4 SoniKLEER TUBE AMP DAMPERS FOR 12AX7/12AU7/EL84/6922

4 SoniKLEER TUBE AMP DAMPERS FOR 12AX7/12AU7/EL84/6922

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Ended:02 Dec, 200917:11:08 GMT
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Price:US $24.99
Approximately £15.37
Postage:US $7.99USPS First Class Mail InternationalSee more services 

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(available quantity 18)
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A reserve price is the minimum price the seller will accept. This price is hidden from bidders. To win, a bidder must have the highest bid and have met or exceeded the reserve price.

 
Other item info
Item number:350273641736
Item location:Miami, Florida, United States
Post to:N. and S. America, Europe, Asia, Australia
History:6 sold

We are very pleased and proud to report that on January 5, 2009 we celebrated our 11th year of selling on eBay!  Please check our 11 years of eBay feedback.  Thanks to you for your continuing support!

 

NOTE: THIS SoniKLEER DAMPER DESIGN HAS BEEN UNDER DEVELOPMENT BY US SINCE MID-2005.  THIS IS OUR OWN DESIGN AND AFTER EXTENSIVE TESTING OF MANY DESIGNS IN DAMPERS, THESE HAVE BEEN FABRICATED TO OUR SPECIFICATIONS.

 

THESE DAMPERS ARE FAR MORE EXPENSIVE TO PRODUCE THAN OUR OTHER DAMPER DESIGNS AND HAVE BEEN FABRICATED FOR THOSE AUDIOPHILES AND MUSICIANS WHO WANT TO GO THE NEXT STEP ABOVE OUR STANDARD DAMPERS.

 

 

 

THIS IS AN AUCTION FOR FOUR SoniKLEER HIGH MASS VACUUM TUBE DAMPERS.  The winner of this auction will receive four dampers for each item won at a cost of just $24.99 for the complete set of four dampers.  If you need more than four dampers, just bid for more than one set. Shipping on extra sets shipped in the same package is free both in the U.S. and Internationally after postage is paid for the first set.

 

These dampers are designed to fit 9 pin vacuum tubes.  Most audiophiles and musicians use two dampers on each tube.  These vacuum tube dampers are constructed of aerospace quality silicone with a temperature rating of over 400 degrees F.

 

So this set of four dampers will improve the sound of two tubes if you use two dampers per tube as recommended, or improve the sound of four tubes if you would like to try one per tube.  This is one of the easiest, lowest cost ways available to improve the sound of your system.

 

The use of these vibration dampers is especially important for audiophiles as the small vibrations in the listening room can adversely affect the quality of the sound from the system.  These dampers are also very important for musicians because the levels of vibration in your amps while performing, are even greater than in audiophile amps.

 

These heavy-duty high density dampers will fit the following and other similar size 9 pin vacuum tubes such as:  12AX7/ECC83, 12AU7/ECC82, 12AT7/ECC81, 12BH7, 12BY7, EL84/6BQ5, 6922, 7199, 5687, EF86, EZ81, 6CA4, etc.

 

THESE DAMPERS ARE "SIZE SK-SMALL".  I HAVE A TOTAL OF 14 DIFFERENT SIZES/TYPES TUBE DAMPERS AVAILABLE ON EBAY TO FIT ALMOST ALL TUBES.  PLEASE SEE MY OTHER AUCTIONS FOR OTHER SIZES.

 

NOTE: FOR MOST FOLKS, OUR "REGULAR" SIZE SMALL DAMPER RINGS WILL BE PERFECT AND WILL COST LESS, BUT IF YOU HAVE A VERY FINE SYSTEM WANT THE VERY MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE FROM YOUR TUBE EQUIPMENT, THEN THESE DAMPERS ARE FOR YOU.

 

Please read some comments I have received about these dampers from folks who have recently BETA TESTED these dampers for me:

 

 

Roger McPhereson writes:

 

"Thank you for letting me Beta Test these new SoniKLEER dampers.   The improvement was dramatic.  My high-end system has now been tweaked beyond my wildest expectations.  I noticed improvements in the upper mid-range and sound stage was dramatically improved.  I feel previleged to have been asked to test these for you."  Roger McPhereson, Atlanta, GA.

 

Audiophile Willie Chee writes:

 

"Hi Sandy, Many thanks letting me test these new SoniKLEER dampers.  My vintage Mcintosh equipment is now even better sonically than I thought possible. the sound stage is enormous!  The equipment is absolutely dead quiet, and "blackness" is greatly improved.  Thanks!   Willie Chee, San Francisco

 

Guitarist, Sal Owens, of Nashville writes:

 

"Sandy, I want to let you know that I removed the tube shields in my Blackface Fender and I was blown away by the improvement in the sound!  Sustain is greatly improved and the tonal clarity is not to be believed.  I will recommend these SoniKLEER dampers to all my studio session musician friends in Nashville!  I hope these are available on eBay soon!"  Sal Owens, Nashville, TN

 

 

 

 FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:

 

 

QUESTION:  WHAT IS THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN THESE DAMPERS AND THE ROUNDED EDGE DAMPERS YOU HAVE BEEN SELLING FOR MANY YEARS ON EbAY?

 

ANSWER:  THESE DAMPERS EACH HAVE OVER 2x THE MASS OF OUR OTHER SIZE SMALL DAMPERS WHICH FIT THESE 9-PIN MINIATURE TUBES.  IF YOU USE TWO OF THESE DAMPERS ON EACH TUBE, YOU WILL HAVE ABOUT 5x THE DAMPENING PROPERTIES THAN IF YOU USE TWO OF OUR REGULAR SIZE SMALL DAMPERS ON THE SAME TUBES.

 

QUESTION:  IS THE MATERIAL USED IN THESE SoniKLEER DAMPERS DIFFERENT THAN THE MATERIAL USED TO FABRICATE YOU REGULAR DAMPERS?

 

ANSWER:  NO, THESE SoniKLEER DAMPERS ARE FABRICATED FROM THE EXACT SAME MATERIAL AS OUR REGULAR DAMPERS.  WE HAVE FOUND THAT THIS SILICONE IS THE VERY BEST MATERIAL FOR DAMPERS.

 

QUESTION:  CAN I OVER DAMPEN MY TUBES?  WILL THESE DAMPERS "DULL" THE SOUND?

 

ANSWER:  ABSOUTELY NOT!  YOU DO NOT WANT ANY MICROPHONICS IN YOUR VACUUM TUBES!  THESE DAMPERS WILL PROVIDE THE MAXIMUM DAMPENING TO YOUR TUBES, AND WILL IMPROVE THE SONICS OF EVEN THE FINEST NOS TUBES.

 

QUESTION:  WHY ARE THESE SO EXPENSIVE? THEY COST ALMOST 6 TIMES THE PRICE OF YOUR REGULAR DAMPERS.

 

ANSWER:  WE NEEDED TO HAVE SPECIAL MOLDS MADE FOR THESE DAMPERS.  THESE DAMPERS ARE FABRICATED IN RELATIVELY SMALL QUANTITIES ESPECIALLY FOR US TO OUR OWN SPECIFICATIONS.

 

QUESTION:  ARE THESE NEW SoniKLEER DAMPERS AVAILABLE IN ANY OTHER SIZES BESIDES FOR 9-PIN MINIATURE TUBES?

 

ANSWER:  NO, NOT AT THIS TIME, ONLY IN THIS SIZE.  WE MAY PRODUCE THESE SoniKLEER DAMPERS IN OTHER SIZES IN THE FUTURE, DEPENDING ON THE DEMAND. IN THE MEANTIME, WE HAVE 8 OTHER SIZES OF REGULAR DAMPERS AVAILABLE ON OUR OTHER EbAY AUCTIONS.

 

QUESTION:  ARE THESE DAMPERS AVAILABLE IN ANY OTHER COLORS?

 

ANSWER:  NO, AT THIS TIME THIS RED-ORANGE COLOR IS THE ONLY COLOR AVAILABLE.  IN THE FUTURE, WE MAY BE ABLE TO OFFER THESE DAMPERS IN ANOTHER COLOR, BUT NOT AT THIS TIME.

 

QUESTION:  SHOULD I GET REMOVE MY REGULAR SILICONE  DAMPERS THAT PUCHASED PREVIOUSLY FROM YOU AND CHANGE TO THESE SoniKLEER DAMPERS ON MY 9-PIN MINIATURE TUBES?

 

ANSWER:  THIS IS NOT A SIMPLE ANSWER...IF YOU ARE TOTALLY HAPPY WITH THE PERFORMANCE OF YOUR SYSTEM WITH OUR REGULAR DAMPERS, THERE MAY BE NO REASON TO CHANGE.  THESE SoniKLEER DAMPERS WERE DESIGNED FOR FOLKS WHO WANT THE ABSOLUTE MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE FROM THEIR SYSTEMS.

 

HOWEVER, IT IS DIFFICULT FOR US TO ADVISE ANYONE AS EACH OF US HAS OUR OWN FEELINGS ABOUT HOW OUR SYSTEMS SHOULD SOUND.

 

I CAN TELL YOU THAT THESE SoniKLEER DAMPERS WILL SOUND DIFFERENT THAN OUR REGULAR DAMPERS AND MOST FOLKS LIKE THEM VERY MUCH.  OUR REGULAR DAMPERS ARE A TERRIFIC VALUE FOR THEIR LOW COST, AND THESE SoniKLEER DAMPERS ARE ALSO AN EXCELLENT VALUE SO THE CHOICE ABOUT WHICH DAMPER TO USE IS TRULY A PERSONAL ONE.   YOU MIGHT WISH TO TRY A FEW OF THESE SoniKLEER DAMPERS IN YOUR PREAMP FIRST, AND THEN MAKE A DECISION ABOUT THE REST OF YOUR TUBES. THE IMPROVEMENT WHEN YOU GO FROM NO DAMPERS TO OUR REGULAR DAMPERS IS HUGE, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OUR REGULAR DAMPERS AND THESE SoniKLEER DAMPERS IS SIGNIFICANT BUT NOT AS GREAT AS WHEN GOING FROM NO DAMPERS TO OUR REGULAR DAMPERS.

 

 

...A WORD ABOUT DAMPER THICKNESS

 

We now have two damper designs availble to fit 9-pin miniature tubes.

 

1)  Our REGULAR Size SMALL which we have been offering on eBay for many years and which are available on our other eBay auctions.  These are wonderful dampers and at the cost of just $8.99 for a set of 8, are an excellent value as well.

 

Unlike some other sellers, we only sell one thickness of our REGULAR tube dampers.  We only sell dampers of the heaviest thickness available.  This is because through testing and experimentation, we have determined that in order to obtain the maximum benefit from tube dampers, you need to use the heaviest mass damper available.  Why bother at all if you are not going to get the maximum effect?

 

 

2)  These SoniKLEER Size SK-SMALL on this auction which is our newest innovation in damper technology.

 

 

 

NOTE: These SoniKLEER High Density/HIgh Mass dampers will not interfere in any measurable way with the proper dissipation of heat from a vacuum tube when two dampers per tube are used as recommended and the approximately 70 sq. mm area that these dampers cover, will not measurably affect tube cooling.  In fact, these dampers also absorb heat and will contribute to the cooling of the vacuum tube.

 

FURTHER CLARIFICATION ON DAMPER THICKNESS

 

Some folks have compared Vacuum Tube Dampers to shock absorbers on mechanical devices such as automobiles.  I have discussed this comparison with vacuum tube engineers, and they tell me that this is a false analogy.

 

For example with an automobile, you want to “feel the road” to some extent.  With vacuum tubes, you never want the tubes to “feel the vibrations” or have any microphonics.  A totally dampened tube is very desirable (if not fully attainable).  When vacuum tube engineers design these tubes, vibration and microphonics are not factored into the equation.  Overdampening a speaker will dull out the sound, but that is not the case with vacuum tubes.  Internal vibrations within a tube’s mechanism are never good, and even small ones will diminish the quality of the sound.

 

Engineers who have designed tubes have told me that a totally vibration free tube is the “Holy Grail” to which the design engineers strive.  In a high-quality tube design, vibration free supports and thick mica insulators are what is specified…not thin supports and thin mica to allow vibrations.

 

This philosophy has been explained to me by a retired Vacuum Tube Engineer who worked for RCA designing vacuum tubes during the 1950's and retiring in 1968.  He is also an audiophile and we have had some very interesting discussions about tube design.  I also have a distant relative who worked for Raytheon in tube design, and although he mainly worked on transmitting tubes, he also echos the same philosophy about microphonics.

 

Microphonics to any extent are not desirable, and the very best sound comes from tubes where the microphonics are not detectable.  Hence our decision to market only the highest density dampers.

 

NOW...A WORD ABOUT MICROPHONICS

 

Microphonics is a characteristic of all vacuum tubes to some extent or another, when in use.  Microphonics occur when vibrations (both small and large) to the internal parts of the tube, affect the way those internal components process the electron flow through the tube.  We normally only hear about microphonics on defective tubes or very inexpensive tubes, but the truth is, that microphonics are almost always present even in the best and most expensive tubes.  Normally we do not notice the effects of microphonics with quality tubes, but after listening to your system with these tube dampers installed, you may very well be able to hear the small but important improvements in the sound.

 

WHAT SIZE AND THICKNESS DAMPER DO I NEED?

 

As stated earlier, we have learned that there is little point in using a vibration damper with low mass.  Therefore, we are only offering the heaviest mass dampers available.  The tube sizes that these Size SK-SMALL SoniKLEER dampers will fit are listed above.  Please see my other auctions for sizes to fit power output tubes as well as rectifier tubes.

 

NOTE: THE TUBES SHOWN IN THE PHOTOGRAPH ARE NOT INCLUDED IN THIS AUCTION.  THEY ARE SHOWN IN THE PHOTOGRAPH TO DEMONSTRATE HOW THESE DAMPERS LOOK WHEN INSTALLED.

 

I have been involved with vacuum tubes since the mid 60’s and I have been selling tubes on eBay since Jan. 1998.  I believe my feedback reflects my dedication to selling only the very best products and to my commitment to total customer satisfaction.

 

Please email me using the "Ask Seller a Question" link above with any questions.

 

 

Feel free to check my feedback and bid with confidence.  Please email with any questions before bidding.  We accept Visa, MasterCard, Discover and American Express through PayPal.  NOTE: We also accept your Visa or MasterCard from anywhere in the world via www.BidPay.com  We reserve the right to reject bids from those with negative or hidden feedback. If you fall into this category, please email before bidding! We also reserve the right to declare this auction null and void if eBay is not accessible during the last three hours of this auction.

 

 

SHIPPING COSTS-DOMESTIC AND INTERNATIONAL-COMBINING SHIPPING

(New Postage Rates Effective May 14, 2007)


Flat rate shipping (no matter how many dampers you have shipped at the same time) VIA USPS First Class Mail within US including Alaska and Hawaii with a normal 2-3 day delivery is $3.95 including a USPS Delivery Confirmation Number emailed to you when shipped.  First Class shipping to Puerto Rico is also $3.95.  If your invoice does charge you more than one shipping cost for multiple damper orders, please adjust accordingly or email me for an adjustment to shipping cost.  98% of our items are shipped the same day or day after payment is received.

 

Airmail First Class Mail International (4-7 days transit time) shipping outside the U.S. is a flat $7.99 no matter how many dampers you order as long as I ship all together. 

 

This means that for INTERNATIONAL SHIPMENTS, including the extra time required to fill out the CUSTOMS FORMS, we charge $7.99 to ship one pack or 10 packs, or 15 packs or even 100 packs will still cost just $7.99 to ship Internationally.  This includes packing materials.  Therefore the actual postage on the package will very likely NOT be $7.99 if you purchase one pack but if you purchase more packs it will probabaly cost us more than $7.99  but we will still only charge you $7.99 in order to simplify & speed up the eBay billing and shipping process.  This policy on flat-rate shipping cost allows us to keep the cost of the dampers themselves as low as possible.

 

=============================================================================================================================

 

IMPORTANT: I have a special favor to ask of our buyers:  eBay has a new rating system called Detailed Seller Ratings or DSRs. It's those little stars you click on when you leave feedback.  

 

Here is the problem, and therefore the favor that we ask:  When you give 4 stars, it may seem like a great score, for instance 4 stars in Shipping Time means "Quickly”  eBay, HOWEVER CONSIDERS 4 STARS A SUB PAR MARK!!!  WE ARE ACTUALLY PENALIZED WITH HIGHER EbAY FEES IF WE GET 4 STAR RATINGS INSTEAD OF 5 STAR RATINGS!

 

eBay standards require sellers to maintain 4.8 & above or be penalized with higher fees & more.

 

And when rating us for "Shipping and Handling Charges" we ask that you please consider that we pay for an additional insurance service that does not show in the postage cost on your package, so please consider that we have paid this additional shipping cost that is not visible on the postage on your package.

 

I strive for 5 star service by stating upfront my policies, my shipping rate & my shipping frequency.

 

If you were pleased with this transaction, please respond with all 5 stars!   If you are not, please let me know via email and I'll work to make it that way.  

 

Please help us work to make eBay an even greater community.  The more “5 Star” ratings we earn, the lower our eBay fees are, thus enabling us to offer our items at the lowest costs possible.  We respectfully ask that you please take this into condideration when deciding if our services are excellent and how many "stars" to leave in your ratings.  eBay does not consider 4 "Stars" good enough to grant us a discount on the eBay fees to us, only 5 "Stars" is good enough! 

 

Thanks! Sandy & Barbara

 

 

ATTENTION:  ITALY / ITALIAN BIDDERS:
Due to NUMEROUS AND REPEATED problems with the speed of Italian Customs & Post Office, we cannot respond to questions about shipping via First Class International to Italy for SIX FULL WEEKS after the ship date.  If your item is being shipped to Italy via First Class Mail International, please do not email asking about delivery until 6 weeks have passed from the date of mailing.  We have had repeated problems with Customs in Italy and buyers in Italy then email us that they have not received their goods.  Then...after many emails back and forth during several weeks, the item always shows up.  This delay is not caused by us and even though we would love to help, there is truly NOTHING we can do about it.  It is the Italian Postal System & Italian Customs that are causing these delays!  Other sellers are simply refusing to sell to Italy.  We do not want to do that, although we will be forced to if there are consistent problems.  We sell many items to customers in Italy!  We love our many friends and customers in ItalyYou are WELCOME to bid on our items, but please understand and abide by these terms.  If you need your item sooner than 6 weeks, please ask us for the cost to ship via Express Mail International which takes about 8-10 days to Italy.  Thank you for your understanding!

 

Please click on: "View Seller's Other Auctions" for more interesting items. Please check my feedback and bid with confidence. Good luck & thank you for bidding. You may pay for this item on your Visa, MasterCard, Discover or American Express card at no extra charge through PayPal. If you use PayPal Instant Payment, I will get immediate payment and be able to ship without waiting for your payment to arrive.   Thanks and Good Luck to all!

 

PHOTOGRAPH AND TEXT COPYRIGHT SANDYPHOTO 2007

 

Copying of photos or text will be reported to eBay and further legal action will be instituted.

 

 


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00208
Postage and packaging
Item location: Miami, Florida, United States
Dispatches to: N. and S. America, Europe, Asia, Australia
Quantity:
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Postage and packaging
Each additional item
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Estimated delivery*
US $7.99
Free
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USPS First Class Mail InternationalTM
varies for items dispatched from an international location
*The estimated delivery time is based on the seller's dispatch time, the postal service selected, and when the seller receives cleared payment. Sellers are not responsible for shipping service transit times. Transit times may vary, particularly during peak periods.
Return policy
We have never had a defective damper in 11 years of sales. We will be happy to replace any defective dampers promptly.
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Seller's payment instructions
Please let me know you saw this email and how you prefer to pay: PayPal Instant Payment usually ships same day or next business day if payment is received during the weekend or very late in the day. Insured First Class Mail with a delivery confirmation number emailed to you is $3.95 in the US 2-3 days Delivery or $7.99 outside the US for airmail no matter how many damper packs are shipped together. Thanks! Sandy
Seller assumes all responsibility for this listing.

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