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Message started by BLFST on 01/31/10 at 23:56:31

Title: Gold Pins
Post by BLFST on 01/31/10 at 23:56:31

Just a general question - can anyone tell me if there really is a difference in a given tube with gold pins vs the same tube with standard pins? I am primarily interested in a reduction of the noise floor, but am curious as to other improvements. I am looking at 12ax7 tubes.

Thanks in advance.

bill

Title: Re: Gold Pins
Post by Lon on 02/01/10 at 02:04:06

They might stay clean longer? That would be the biggest difference is my guess.

Title: Re: Gold Pins
Post by Doorman on 02/01/10 at 02:29:28

Gold would be used for it's conductive properties. Maybe less corrosion.
Don

Title: Re: Gold Pins
Post by BLFST on 02/01/10 at 04:52:27

Thanks for your replies. Your replies basically parallel my own thoughts. That is one reason that I never bought any gold pin tubes. But I saw a comparison chart of current production 12ax7 tubes on line earlier that compared the tubes in both gain and noise. To my surprise, a gold pin tube really outperformed its standard pin counterpart. I don't know how the tests were done, but it made me curious it the gold pins did offer any improvements.

Thanks.

bill

Title: Re: Gold Pins
Post by Steve Deckert on 02/01/10 at 12:26:21

Back in 2002 I tried the EI gold pin tubes in our amps and found that the diameter of the pins was larger. This made me think the gold plating was an addition to the standard pin plating - or more of an afterthought if you will. I could be wrong. Bottom line is, once you inserted one into a 9 pin socket, the socket adjusted to the fatter pins and never gripped stock tubes tightly again after that. This whole thing could have been a fluke, but after 2002 I gave up on them.

Steve

Title: Re: Gold Pins
Post by Rivieraranch on 02/01/10 at 12:27:02

As with a lot of audio junk, gold pinned tubes are primarily a status item, an ego buy, or whatever. The minor benefits of any are far offset by the cost.

Title: Re: Gold Pins
Post by BLFST on 02/01/10 at 22:31:16

Thankyou both for your additional posts. I remember you (Steve) telling someone in a post quite a while back who was having socket problems that gold pins could have been the culprit (another reason that I have stayed away from them so far). I guess that until I read or hear that there is a distinct difference in gold pins, that I will stay with the status quo.

Thanks.

bill