new design of tube damper from ARC ?
 

Hello there,

After 7 years of service and 8000+ hours on my Ref40 preamp.
Now it is time for a third set of 6H30. Tube dampers that came with it since
2010 are now brittle and torn apart. I ordered new sets from ARC dealer and
I was surprised to see that they were in new type, just a single ring with circular cross section. pretty much like a donut. the old type was like a double ring.
Even on picture of the latest Ref160M 6H30, it still has that classic double ring type dampers on them. But my ARC dealer assured me that what they sent to me were from ARC factory and original, but new design.
Any idea about this ?

Thanks
TOGA

I ordered a set of dampers from ARC for my LS16MkII (6H30) and they are singles as well.
Regards,
Jim

All 6h30p tube dampers since I bought my CD7 used in 2011, until I got my Ref 75SE in February this year have been the same, including spares I got directly from ARC in December. All have been a single, "donut-shaped" ring with circular cross section. But they are always mounted in pairs, close together on the 6h30p, so they look like a double ring. I guess it's the same on the Ref 160M.
Are you really sure they've been double rings, not just two stuck together?

When I ordered mine they sent only two rings and said that was now the standard, FWIW
Regards,
Jim

Thanks for all replies, So I will try it with the new style damper. Should be fine.
If we stack two new style damper together they will be too thick. My dealer asked
Factory for me, the answer was even more confusing. They said use one for small tubes
And two for large tubes. What ! They only use 6H30 and KTxxx recently and only tube that these dampers will fit is 6H30, why did they mention big or small tubes.

Toga

Maybe the service fellow is also speaking for Macintosh amps/tubes, and answer did not come from ARC direct but from some parent of both companies? Just a guess.

Anyone have any experience with Herbie's tube dampers?

new design of tube damper from ARC ?
 

Yes. Tons. I dumped my ARC silicone rubber rings on all the tubes in my Ref 40 preamp a few years ago. Herbies RX on all tubes on preamp and amp (28 Tubes). Sublime. Tonal balance is much improved as are other aspects. Place the RX damper on the 6H30 tubes as high on the tube as you can w/o them falling off. Much better than the placement ARC recommends on the tubes. Give the dampers at lest 25/30 hrs on time to settle. There’s a 30 return guarantee on them so it’s easy to tell.
Note I also have them on the 6550 Tubes in the power supply. Place them level with the getter.
You’ll be glad you did. The ARC dampers somewhat throttle the ultimate potential of the tube.

Totally agree on the Herbie's RX. I have them on all my 6H30 tubes. I have not tried them on the 6550 tube.

Thanks for the feedback oddeophile! I will order some today.