I was just wondering why some of the packs of Apex matched tubes come with a red color Apex matched label on them and some come with a green Apex label holding them together? Does this indicate different grades of tubes or something else?
Announcement
Collapse
No announcement yet.
Apex matched tubes different tape colors
Collapse
X
-
Originally posted by beaubrummels View PostMine are all green. Haven't seen red yet. IMHO, the transconductance and current numbers matter more than anything. Do the numbers on the red ones all match? Or are they a wider tolerance? E.g. the current and transconductance are farther apart in values on the red?It's funny how some stories became historic,
especially when the authors clearly wrote them to be metaphoric,
But people will believe anything when it's written in stone or ancient scroll...-Fat Mike
Comment
-
Yeah, Apex isn't a rebrand. It's a really expensive tube testing device that many redistributors have that prints out a tape label of the results you stick on the box and on the tube itself. You'll find Apex-matched tubes of all brands and from all 3 factories. It's just a matter of who was the middle-man who had the Apex machine and did the testing before selling to you.
Comment
-
Originally posted by Mikelamury View Post
The one I got with the red tape is actually a higher current than all the green ones I have. the current is 40 and the transconductance is 3540.
Comment
-
Originally posted by beaubrummels View PostYeah, Apex isn't a rebrand. It's a really expensive tube testing device that many redistributors have that prints out a tape label of the results you stick on the box and on the tube itself. You'll find Apex-matched tubes of all brands and from all 3 factories. It's just a matter of who was the middle-man who had the Apex machine and did the testing before selling to you.
The only countries making tubes are Slovakia {JJ} and Russia and they're all hit and miss.
China stopped making tubes 3 years ago but there are a couple Chinese makers if you wanna pay $400 a quad for $100 tubes.
So much mis-information and marketing bling associated with vacuum tubes.
People need to educate themselves and wade thru the promotional Ka Ka.
Most "Apex" labeled tubes ive seen are relabeled JJ tubes they still have "JJ" on the glass, not difficult to decipher.
Is an "Apex" tube better than the one's straight from JJ ? Who knows but i don't by Slovak tubes anyway.Last edited by JMP/HBE; 12-29-2022, 12:05 PM.
Comment
-
Originally posted by JMP/HBE View Post
"Apex" is a rebrand / match / test yada outfit that tries to do what Groove tube started 40+ years ago.
The only countries making tubes are Slovakia {JJ} and Russia and they're all hit and miss.
China stopped making tubes 3 years ago but there are a couple Chinese makers if you wanna pay $400 a quad for $100 tubes.
So much mis-information and marketing bling associated with vacuum tubes.
People need to educate themselves and wade thru the promotional Ka Ka.
Most "Apex" labeled tubes ive seen are relabeled JJ tubes they still have "JJ" on the glass, not difficult to decipher.
Is an "Apex" tube better than the one's straight from JJ ? Who knows but i don't by Slovak tubes anyway.
Comment
-
Matching has nothing to do with the build quality of the tube or its expected lifespan. It just identifies two or more tubes that operate identically in terms of current and transconductance. The only reason they're more expensive is someone had to take the time to do that matching. How soon they crap out after that is a totally separate matter.
Comment
-
Originally posted by beaubrummels View Post
Hmm. the only tubes I am aware of with a TC in that range are like either a 6V6 or lower power-factor dual-triode pre-tubes. But 3540 sounds like a low number even then. What tubes are we talking about?It's funny how some stories became historic,
especially when the authors clearly wrote them to be metaphoric,
But people will believe anything when it's written in stone or ancient scroll...-Fat Mike
Comment
-
Originally posted by beaubrummels View PostNow I wonder if the red tape means they work but are out of spec for the tube type? Need to ask Amplified Parts if there's any meaning there.It's funny how some stories became historic,
especially when the authors clearly wrote them to be metaphoric,
But people will believe anything when it's written in stone or ancient scroll...-Fat Mike
Comment
Comment