Duende Criatura
Tube damping rings



A product of many years of experimentation, Duende Criatura tube rings are made of pure Teflon and Titanium. Simply slide the ring over the top of a vacuum tube. They reduce mechanical vibrations and stabilize the operation of vacuum tubes.






           
 
Diameter
(mm)
Diameter
(inch)
Tubes like:
Price in €
ex.VAT

Price in €
incl .VAT
 
9-10

0,35-0,39

6021W, 611WA
13.20
16.00
 
17,5-18
0.69-0.75
6AU6, 5651A, 6AK6
13.20
16.00
 
19,5-22
0.77-0.87
ECC83, EL84, EF86, 6922, E88CC
13.20
16.00
 
26-29
1.02-1.14
6SN7 etc.
14.90
18.00
 
27,7-32
1.09-1.26
EL34, 5AR4, GZ34
19.00
23.00
 
32-36
1.26-1.42
some EL34, 6L6GC etc.
20.65
25.00
 
36-39
1.42-1.54
6080, KT90, 6L6GC, 300B
22.30
27.00
 
38-42
1.5-1.65
2A3, 300B etc.
23.15
28.00
 
43-47
1.69-1.85
6550, KT88, KT66, SV572
23.15
28.00
 
50-54
1.96-2.13
6C33C
24.80
30.00
 
53-58
2.09-2.28
211, 805, 845, 813
27.25
33.00
 
63-68
2.48-2.68
some 300B etc.
27.25
33.00
           







Duende Criatura

Duende Criatura tube rings considerably reduce microphonics, distortion and self-oscillation from audio tubes. They are to be slid around the top part of the tube where they reduce mechanical vibrations. The listener will notice improvement of three dimensional picture, a more controlled bass and a cleaner soundstage.

The before mentioned effects are at their best when the tube ring is sitting around the top part of the tube. The tube’s ability to radiate heat will be unaffected.

The precision-machined Teflon base ring is very dense which provides excellent damping properties. They can withstand temperatures of up to 260 degrees, which is much higher than the operating temperatures of vacuum tubes ranging from 160 to a maximum of 220 degrees. Duende Criatura tube rings last indefinitely. A pure titanium clamp is used to provide the stable pressure over the Teflon ring to increase the effect. Typically ohmical, tube circuitry is also sensitive to eddy currents. Unlike other metal types, Titanium does not cause harmful eddy currents.

Duende Criatura tube rings can be used in pre stages, phase splitters and output stages. Improvement is recognizable in non-amplifying and high feedback stages, but sound improvement is at its optimum in amplifying and low feedback stages. The Duende Criatura tube rings are available in different sizes for most tube types. Tube rings can be easily cleaned in either a dishwasher or with degreasing soap and hot water.

Product Review:

Audio Candy, Paul Candy at 6moons.com, November 2004

We all know that vacuum tubes are vulnerable to air and structure-borne vibrations which can have negative effects on music playback. Duende Criatura's Tube Rings are simple Teflon rings that are slit to expand slightly while slipping over a tube. There's a groove around the outer portion which contains a Titanium retainer clamp to ensure a tensioned fit. Lightweight and flexible, the manufacturer (who makes jewelry in his non-audiophile life) claims that Titanium will not induce eddy currents into sensitive tube circuitry. You simply slide these dampers over the tube and seat them at the top portion roughly where the getter resides. The Teflon can withstand temperatures up to 260 degrees and will not melt or stick to the tubes (hey, it's Teflon!). Nor will it accumulate any dust or alter color. Providing you position the ring correctly, it will not affect the tube's ability to dissipate heat nor alter its operating temperature.

Just sliding the rings on the input and phase splitter tubes of my Stingray created immediate benefits. The soundstage was slightly wider and deeper and gained sharper focus and greater separation between performers. It was easier to pick out subtle details in the music to offering a more involving listening experience. These effects were immediately audible even during A/B/A comparisons. The result was magnified yet again when I slipped these thermionic prophylactics on the Manray's EL84s, with the added bonus of deeper, more powerful bass and a greater sense of dynamic agility.


Roy Gregory, Hifi +, issue 28 December 2003

Gregory, editor and publisher of the UK hifi magazine hifi+ tested the tube rings. This is his conclusion:

Anybody with a tubeamp, especially an open chassis model should investigate these plain looking little rings immediately...

...They're now considered essential as far as I am concerned, and bring new meaning to the term ‘Simply The Best’."