Hello, I’m looking for some feedback regarding socket savers and tube rolling.

Socket savers seem to have been developed for tube testers. In this application they make sense as maybe hundreds of tubes were being plugged and unplugged into the same socket. Tube testers are concerned with if a tube works. Tube testers are not concerned with how a tube might sound.

Decware amps offer plenty of opportunities to roll tubes on both the inputs and outputs but only offers socket savers for the input tubes. I’ve seen the warning about bent pins on input tubes.  A pin straightener and a socket saver seem the best defense. Use the socket saver to make sure the pins go in straight and then take it out.

Should the same precautions be taken when rolling octal output tubes?  Octal tubes have heavier pins and the key system. Are these output sockets robust enough not to require socket savers?  Do socket savers on output tubes change bias points?

For those members with experience do you find socket savers to be neutral and leave them in the amp? Does anyone  find  either input or output tubes to have a different sound without the socket saver? Do you only use socket savers on both the input and output tubes? Have you extensively rolled tubes in your amp without socket savers and never had a problem?

I have always used socket savers for both octal and 9 pin tubes.

I can't say they have no effect on sound, but whatever impact they have is tiny. I use them them mostly as protection, because in the (highly unlikely) event something weird happens it is much easier to replace a socket saver than the actual socket.

I also use a pin straightener pretty religiously when I change 9 pin tubes. I just feel like whatever the cost in time and materials is for socket savers and pin straightening it is cheap insurance so I don't have to deal with a messed up socket.