one tube gear

[mboldda1]

if you have a piece of equipment that only uses one tube is it best to buy a tube with matched halves?

[Triode Pete]

if you have a piece of equipment that only uses one tube is it best to buy a tube with matched halves?

Assuming it's a dual triode, such as 6sn7, 6sl7, etc... If it's a power triode, there's only one section... nothing to match.

Depends if it's a stereo piece... if so, you would want matched halves... if it's a monoblock piece, no need...

Some of the dual triodes only use one section for input or driver stages...

[mboldda1]

thanks pete, this is a dac/preamp.  also some one tube buffers out there.

[Response Audio]

With that being the case, one half of the tube (dual triode) is being used for each channel. While its not necessary, it surely wouldn't hurt as each triode within a single tube can be slightly different. It does cost much to have one tube matched.

[tmazz]

I would have to ask, how much extra is it going to cost to get a tube with both sides matched? In theory, it would be nice to have the exact same gain in both channels. But from a practical point of view, what's the worst that can happen if they are off by a little bit, you would have to tweak the balance control a little bit to one side or the other? Most of us should probably be doing that anyway to compensate for acoustic differences in the two sides of our rooms.

[Response Audio]

Depending on the quality of the piece, you may never realize any difference in the two sides Of a tube. There are many other variables in the system that would effect channel balance much more than a single tube. Most inexpensive volume controls have a larger channel imbalance that the two sides of a single tube.
But then again, for an extra buck or two....