New valves? Nutube. An interesting innovation?

jpfamps

Any thoughts on this?

http://www.emusician.com/gear/1332/korg-inc-and-noritake-co-announce-limited-release-innovative-vacuum-tube/50595

ecc83

Interesting, would have liked some numbers.

Does it need a heater supply? If not, how does it work?

30,000 hours is about 3.5 years? I think we all know pre amp valves can last a lot longer than that.

But as I say, interesting!

Dave.

ThorpyFX

Miniature amps will get a whole lot more interested very soon. I guarantee they'll attempt a mini ac30 with this.....

thisisguitar

Who uses a valve continuously anyway? Only really applies to mixing consoles that are permanently on. In a guitar amp with 3 hours a day use it could be 27 1/2 years!

ICBM

Interesting, but I can't really see it taking off. The lack of compatibility with existing valve technology is a huge disadvantage.

I could be completely wrong of course.

Phil_aka_Pip

Will they do an output valve version? Or is the design only suitable for ECC83-alikes?

gjonesy

ecc83 said:

Interesting, would have liked some numbers.

Does it need a heater supply? If not, how does it work?

30,000 hours is about 3.5 years? I think we all know pre amp valves can last a lot longer than that.

But as I say, interesting!

Dave.

it says it has a anode, grid and filament so presumably operates just like a triode. 

Phil_aka_Pip

ICBM said:

Interesting, but I can't really see it taking off. The lack of compatibility with existing valve technology is a huge disadvantage.

I could be completely wrong of course.

And, since i/p valves tend to last a lot longer, they usually need replacing for physical damage like microphony rather than any other reason. Whereas o/p valves tend to be more highly stressed, and likely to fail.

Now, if they could mount that thing that looks like a dilic into a vertical container that is pin compatible with ECC83s then they might just make some inroads into the market, subject to the above caveat that people aren't always wanting to replace i/p valves like they do power valves.

ThePrettyDamned

Quite like the idea - maybe possible to do "big" amps in smaller heads.

Imagine a 50 watt dual rec that's half the size because it uses those in the preamp rather than conventional valves. That would be a pretty attractive thing.

ICBM

ThePrettyDamned said:

Quite like the idea - maybe possible to do "big" amps in smaller heads.

Imagine a 50 watt dual rec that's half the size because it uses those in the preamp rather than conventional valves. That would be a pretty attractive thing.

Preamp valve size is nowhere near the limiting factor in making amps like that - transformers are, mostly. There's no reason a 50W amp can't be more or less lunchbox-sized already, even with full-size power valves as well as preamp.

The only real use I can see for these is putting valves in things that don't currently use them due to size and power consumption, eg pedals, or acoustic guitar preamps - although even there Takamine managed to get a full-size 12AU7 into the Cool Tube preamp - or really non-guitar stuff. Korg already did that with a couple of their grooveboxes, and even then they easily fitted two 12AX7s in.

hobbio

I love reading threads like this, even though I understand maybe 1 word in 3.

monquixote

I think it would be really interesting if they could do a power tube version or something that mounted into the same package as an existing tube.

Dave_Mc

ecc83 said:

30,000 hours is about 3.5 years?

At the rate I practise it's about 400 years >:D<

ROOG

I can see how they might be attractive to effects pedal builders, where there is no need for big power devices and transformers but where they want to bring in some of the 'flavour' of the tube pre amp section.

As others have said the big issues are with the transformers and power stages all of which contribute to the overall tube charater and sound.

thermionic

If you're technically inclined, it's probably based on this technology.

Cacofonix

I'm guessing these will form the basis of a new generation of sound cards and mic pres.

digitalscream

I don't think this will ever take off for guitar amps. One of the good things about valves is that they're easy to replace - just pull one, and fit the other. This package type requires far more careful handling than the average guitarist is capable of.

ToneControl

biggest problem I can see for possible use within guitar amps is "how do you compete with 60+ years of fine tuning useing existing valve models", and also the fact that the much larger output stages are critical too

Nerine

There's already lots of valve pedals, mic pre's, compressors, mics etc etc that utilise a fairly standard 12ax7 size valve.
I'm not sure that that is going to change any time soon. The form factor of many of these things has always worked and never needed addressing with smaller tech really.
I'm not even sure reliability is much of a selling point either. It's not like preamp valves go south that often.

They can try to replace valves if they like. I just can't see it ever affecting the guitar and studio market in any significant way. This isn't the first attempt at doing this by a long shot either..

Check out my new handwired plexi, it's got these weird computery techy "valves" in it....

NOPE.

Evilmags

ICBM;500708" said:

ThePrettyDamned said:

Quite like the idea - maybe possible to do "big" amps in smaller heads.



Imagine a 50 watt dual rec that's half the size because it uses those in the preamp rather than conventional valves. That would be a pretty attractive thing.





Preamp valve size is nowhere near the limiting factor in making amps like that - transformers are, mostly. There's no reason a 50W amp can't be more or less lunchbox-sized already, even with full-size power valves as well as preamp.

The only real use I can see for these is putting valves in things that don't currently use them due to size and power consumption, eg pedals, or acoustic guitar preamps - although even there Takamine managed to get a full-size 12AU7 into the Cool Tube preamp - or really non-guitar stuff. Korg already did that with a couple of their grooveboxes, and even then they easily fitted two 12AX7s in.

What currently prevents transformers being miniaturised? I'd imagine higher power magnets and printed coils could take the size and weight down a lot.

ICBM

Evilmags said:

What currently prevents transformers being miniaturised? I'd imagine higher power magnets and printed coils could take the size and weight down a lot.

Transformers don't contain magnets - just iron (or other ferromagnetic) cores. I'm not totally certain of the physics but there will be a minimum size - it's quite possible they could be made a bit smaller though, in fact modern toroids are smaller than the traditional 'square' design. You can't really make coils much smaller because they have to handle fairly high currents and voltages, so there is a minimum thickness of wire and of insulation.