[BC] Is this for real ?

[RichardBJohnson at comcast.net]

Since I am a world-renowned expert in vacuum-tube design, having helped Lee Deforest when he was having problems with his girlfriends, I am most qualified to answer that question.

Electrons emitted by the cathode tend to congregate in clumps. This has been called "space-charge" and is one of the main reasons for muddy sounds from some vacuum tubes. Triodes that are operated emission-limited, typical for such class "A" circuits, have little space charge so they produce pure sounds with little clumpyness. Excellent triodes will soon be available from this site. http://www.eitubes.com/

Unfortunately, for the golden ear audiophiles, Lee Deforest introduced multiple grids into vacuum tubes, not being satisfied with his original Audion. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Audion_tube

The introduction of additional grids, which were purported to increase the amplification capabilities of the tubes, caused the electrons to clump up because of space-charge effects. The result was cheaper amplifiers with fewer tubes, but defective sound.

The ideal amplifier would comprise as many tubes as possible until the filament power exceeded the heat dissipation capabilities of the structures containing them. Amplifiers designed for outdoor performances therefore can contain tens of thousands of vacuum tubes. The limiting factor then becomes the rate at which defective tubes can be replaced as the typical MTBF of 3,000 hours is reached. For instance, with a 3,000-hour MTBF for tubes, and a 3,000 tube equipment, on the average, one tube needs to be replaced every hour.

Coupled with low-inductance capacitors made from natural fibers, low capacitance resistors made from renewable sources such as Hummers traded in towards electric cars, and transformers wound with oxygen-free copper, the resulting amplifiers will produce sound exceeded only by live performances.

Cheers,
Richard B. Johnson
Book: http://www.AbominableFirebug.com/

----- Original Message -----
From: "Thomas G. Osenkowsky" <tosenkowsky at prodigy.net>

> It seems to be the opposite of annealing.  I'm thinking this is either
> tongue in cheek or it's right up there with oxygen free speaker cables.

I agree with the latter. Oxy-free speaker cables do not suffer from
the ill effects of oxidation with its attendant loss due to high
resistance and often intermittent terminal contact. I understand how
the cooling process can reduce contact resistance resulting in
higher efficiency due to lower losses and improved electron flow
from cathode to anode. Electrons should free themselves in an
orderly fashion and not boil off the cathode.

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