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 Roger S. Gordon, Positive Feedback Online
"The instruments sound more like real instruments. There is just less grunge
between you and the music. These tube dampers really work!"
Roger's complete, comprehensive
review appears in the June/July 2003 issue of Positive Feedback--- http://www.positive-feedback
.com/Issue7/halo.htm
Steve Hoffman, Music Restoration Specialist
"INSTANT MO' BETTER!!! My VAC 300B amp sounds instantly less wobbly, less
microphonic, tighter bass, better everything."
Rick Becker, Enjoy the Music.com
"The Damping Instruments are Big League. Operating directly on the tubes,
where various shelving and isolation technologies are less effective, they have
taken my system to a new high point."
Steve Rouse, Ambience Audio
"Having used Top Hats for years, I was unprepared for the improvement that I
heard in my single-ended amps when I first installed the HAL-O tube dampers.
There was an increase in clarity, with better focus and they presented a more
holographic soundstage. They are the real deal."
Sean Christen, Hi Fi Talk
"The best way that I can put the change is 'I didn't know that I was missing
that.' I didn't know that the soundstage was just a little smeared, it seemed to
just snap into place where I didn't know that it was loose. The bass got tighter
and the imaging got better in speakers that I thought that I was getting all that I could from."
( Excerpt from "Herbie's HAL-O's" review at http://www.tubeaudio.com/page8.html )
Graham Miles, Ontario, Canada
"I installed the set of Halo tube dampers on my dual monobloc Decware Zens
and the results were quite spectacular. I notice a wonderful increase in detail
and dynamics and thought my speakers had reached down another octave into
the bass. I'm very pleased. Thanks for coming up with these little gems."
Jean van Laarhoven, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
"Of course I was hoping to hear any effect at all, but what I heard was beyond
my expectations. There is a much deeper and far more controlled bass now and
the high notes are brighter and more defined. The whole of the soundstage is
more holographic and the instruments are more separated from each other. I
must say that I didn't expect that with my one-year-old Jadis Orchestra
Reference amplifier (with 2xECC83 and 4xKT90 tubes) and the ten-years-old Quad ESL63 speakers.
"Needless to say that I am very pleased with the damping instruments (they look neat as well)."
Jason McGuire, Miami, Florida
"I have owned Ensemble Tube Socks and Vintage Tube Services Mini-tube
Dampers, and neither came close to the quality improvement that the Hal-O 9
Dampers have done. The combination of value and performance of the Hal-O 9 is
truly amazing. The microphonics are gone and yet the minimal surface area
contact allows for proper cooling. Plus, Steve shipped the order the same day
and followed up with his support just to make sure I was happy. Steve, I am very happy!"
Joe Mendez, Sammamish, Washington
"I've been using your tube dampers with great effect for over a year now. The
Hal-Os are very effective and seem to apply just the right amount of damping.
Other damping devices I've tried tend to dull the sound of tubes a bit."
Kevan Smith, Portland, Oregon
I installed the dampers on my Unison Research Unico integrated amp and Cal
Audio SigmaII 24/96 DAC. Immediately I noticed a difference. Less grunge,
wider and deeper soundstage, instruments (especially cymbals) sounded more
true-to-life. I noticed that I could turn up the volume a lot higher without things
sounding harsh. Highly recommended!"
Kwang-ho Kim, Seoul, Korea
"I removed the tube coolers and placed the damping instruments just above the
top half of the glass and the improvements were marvelous. Like they say, Hearing is Believing!"
David Finnegan, Saratoga, California
"I received the six Hal-O that I ordered two days ago. I placed two on the
6N1P's in my phono stage and four on the 6922's in my linestage. I think that
these have greatly improved the focus of the sound and defined better the bass
in my system and I am, thus, very pleased."
Patrick J. Cunningham, Midwest Audio
"Bravo! These are the best solution yet against microphonics."
John Revilla, West Covina, California
"Your Halo 9 improved my AH Njoe Tjoeb 4000 bigtime!"
Bob Zurcher, Spokane, Washington
"I just placed the tube dampers on my Rogue preamp and again your products
work. I would describe the sound as more lush with a more focused soundstage."
Steve McCullough, Atlanta, Georgia
"All I can say is WOW!!!!! What a difference! I am hearing greater detail, better
image resolution and separation, tighter bass, and an overall smoother sound. I
have them on the tubes in my Ah! SuperTjoeb 4000 and on the 12AX7 input
tubes on my Manley Stingray integrated."
Martin Black, San Jose, California
"I have tried many of the do-it-yourself damping techniques. They make you
feel good that you did it yourself, and you say, 'hey, that makes an improvement
.' When I installed Herbie's dampers on the input and driver tubes of my SFS 80,
however, I just had to shake my head and say, 'Wow, I've just upgraded my
whole system!' When I think about it, I actually spent more money on the DIY
stuff, with results that were dismal in comparison."
Helge Nylund, Veradale, Washington
"The tube dampers work great. They lowered the noise floor and let more
harmonics through. I've ordered more of those."
Mike Wedge, Austin, Texas
"I am very pleased with the results from the HAL-O dampers on my preamp (ARC LS-15)."
Alan Olan, Sydney, Australia
"The sound from my BAT VK3i is now clearer, but also has the drive from my
familiar records. Vocals became more solid and an all-round great improvement.
All your products have certainly worked for me, all worthwhile investments."
Lon Armstrong, Austin, Texas
"These are a great product. The sonic character is a lot like that of the Pearl
Tube Coolers, but seems to not quite darken the sound as much and to fetter
the dynamics a bit less. This is good news; I really liked the affects of the
coolers, and this has the affect and not some side affects. These Halo products
have replaced the Coolers in my system. There is less constriction of dynamics.
Things sound more open. The Coolers are not going back in."
G. B., Sacramento, California
"Oh my. Suddenly, I could understand that Nora Jones lyric that was just a bit
slurred before. Piano notes just a little less 'ringy' too. I can't say improvements
were earth-shaking, but they were there, and very real, and a bargain for the price of a halo."
Richard Makarewicz, Lennox Head, Australia
"I have an EAR 834P Signature phono stage which uses three 12AX7 valves.
Each valve was damped with a HAL-O 9. As with Tenderfeet, the positive
differences wrought by the HALO-9's was subtle but clearly audible, and
definitely worthwhile. I noticed two important improvements, one in tonality
where a glare in the upper-mids and treble was eliminated, and second, a small,
easily discernible increase in clarity and focus.
"If you use a turntable (mine is Rega P25 on 6 Tenderfeet) with a valve phono
stage, I strongly recommend using BOTH Tenderfeet and HAL-O tube dampers.
The cumulative improvements to the musicality of my already musical system
was most impressive. And by the way, Steve's customer support is first class."
Paul Briggs, London, England
"I fitted these (tube and interconnect dampers) last night and was bowled over
by the improvement! My Croft Super Micro dual ECC83 phono stage has become
a lot more detailed---I have A/B tested with speakers and headphones. Thanks
a bunch. These are the best and most reasonably priced tweak I've ever tried."
Rich Brkich, Signature Sound
"I am very happy with how well they have worked on the line stage tubes in our
demo Joule-Electra LA-150 preamp. I immediately noticed a less sibilant
presentation and better imaging with a quieter, blacker background."
Pierre Ghaliounghi, Geneva, Switzerland
"It made a very big difference with the preamp but the real differences is
certainly with the 845 tubes in my amp. There is better definition and focus, less ringing."
Bob O'Neill, Bound for Sound
Bob O'Neill's review of the HAL-O Damping Instruments is featured in the July
2002 issue of Bound for Sound Magazine. Here's an excerpt:
"I used the HAL-O devices on the 6DJ8s in my Presence line stage preamp. This
mutha weighs in at over 50 lbs., and it's built in such a way that vibrations are
attenuated naturally due to the quality of construction. Initially, I was skeptical
as to how the HAL-O was going to improve on such an already optimized
situation... but they did. Putting the HAL-Os on the preamp tubes made things
way, way better--- better focus everywhere. Best of all, the HAL-O will not melt
and bond with the tube it is being used on like some of the tube damping
devices of the past. A well thought-out, quality product that addresses a real need."
Matthew Trom, Portland, Oregon
"I don't suffer from Audiophile jaw-drop syndrome, but they sound good to me
! Four are on the ASL Wave 6BM8's, and one is on the 6DJ8 in a Counterpoint
SA-1000. As far as I can tell, the bass is tighter, mids and highs smoother and
everything is more defined. How bout that! They work as advertised. Definitely
worth it! (And you are certainly above and beyond in the customer service department.)"
Martyn Balsky, Halifax, Nova Scotia
"I have placed the 6 hal-o damper's on my Hovland preamp. My first impression
was greater dynamics, mostly noticed in the bass region. I am also getting much
more information. I seem to have more volume for the same setting, but
perhaps that is due to the reduced noise floor?"
Phillip Hyun, Lake Oswego, Oregon
"I am using your tube dampers on my 6SL7s and they are great!"
Mike McCoy, Austin, Texas
"Love my HALO's. I'll be needing one more for the Rectifier soon."
Jim Ricordati, Chicago, Illinois
"Placed the dampers on all my tubes (ASL amps and preamp) and was
pleasantly surprised at how much better the images of both voices and
instruments were presented. The music emerged from a much darker
background is how I would describe the effect. I would recommend the tube
dampers as a worthwhile addition to any tube setup, and look forward to
evaluating their impact on much more of my music collection. Thanks for a
simple and effective product that works, and a speedy delivery service."
Scott Simms, Pleasanton, California
"This is the second set of HAL-Os for my system and they sound great; better
bass control, sweeter highs and improved imaging."
Mike Schneider, Cordova, Tennessee
"I never would have believed it! I bought a set just to play with after reading
about the tube dampers at Audio Asylum. I first tried them on a pair of EL-84s
on my headphone amp and didn't hear much difference. Gave them a second
chance on a pair of 6922's in my DAC. WOW I'm sold! Simply amazing the
improvement. Sometimes you never know what you're missing. Thanks!"
David Ritz, Leesport, Pennsylvania
"I have the HAL-O dampers on my output tubes and preamp. They make
improvements, some subtle, some quite noticeable. I'm glad I'm using them---it's a nice product."
Tyson Neidig, Denver, Colorado
"The HAL-O's are amazing! I slipped a pair ofer the Siemen's 6922's in my AI
Modulus 3A preamp, and wow, they ratcheted up the sound from my speakers a
few notches. In fact, these tube dampers are the best price/performance tweak
I've tried yet. If you have tubed equipment, run to your computer and order a
few. I'm super happy. Hell, they are making Barenboim's latest CD's of the 9
Beethoven Symphonies sound not bad. Before I had the HAL-O's in, the music
just sounded limp. I figured it was just a bad job of conducting, but now it's
actually sounding pretty good. Talk about increasing musical enjoyment!"
James Fairhead, Midhurst, Canada
"Wow!! I have one SET-300B amp at the foot of each of my four Tannoy
Churchills in my home theater. How was I to know? Simply putting one HAL-O
on each 6sn7 receiver tube on each of the four amps brought the single largest
improvement of anything I have done for years and for the money probably the single most important."
Ed Tarantino, San Francisco, California
"I had a bit of buyer's regret right after placing my first order, but damn if these
things didn't make more of an impression then a speaker cable upgrade! I'm
using 'em on a Rogue Tempest integrated. These things really give it some balls,
more punch in the low end, better delineation of harmonic detail, etc."
Sigmund Finman, Canonsburg, Pennsylvania
"I could tell immediately that the cds playing on my Njoe Tjoeb 4000 were
clearer, better defined, had more presence and in some cases, projected a
height and depth of soundstage that were previously missing. That was
immediately. I wonder if they'll sound any better after they've settled in? This is
great for a $20 tweak."
Carl Schenke, Tracy, California
"Even if they didn't make an immediate sonic difference for the better (which
they did), they're so clever, so simple, so affordable and so cool, I would have kept them anyway!"
Mark Cox, Bond Head, Canada
"Music seems to play louder at the same volume setting and vocals especially
seem to be a lot more present in the room. I am very satisfied with the bang for the buck."
Ray Leachman, Fort Worth, Texas
Posted at Audio Asylum (11/16/02):
"I would like to sing the praises of the Halo Tube Dampers. I have a nice
-sounding quad of VT-231's in my Rogue Ninety-Nine preamp. They are (were)
very microphonic. Just a slight finger to the cabinet and ringing could be heard
thru the system. Changing the input selector switch set the ringing off also. To
be honest, I did not detect any bad effects of this while listening to music. I
decided however to try and do something about the ringing. That something
was to try out the Halo Rings (size 27) on them. All I can say is WOW. I can't
believe the difference. I can now rap the cabinet quite firmly and NO ringing
(same with the input selector switch). I now also know that the tubes'
microphonics were affecting the musical reproduction, as the preamp has never
sounded better. The Halo is a great product and in my case directly treated and
corrected my microphonics problems with my 6sn7's."
Tom Rothermel, The Vinyl Valet
"You make a good product and I will promote it whenever I have the opportunity."
Randy Rash, Falmouth, Kentucky
"After installing the HAL-Os, I listened to some very familiar music with some
extremely quiet passages. I discovered that there is more 'going on' in those
passages than I was previously aware of. Detail and focus are definitely better
and three dimensionality has also improved. For $50.00, this is one of the better
bargains I have come across."
Frank Goldfarb, North Miami Beach, Florida
"I got your devices today and they have paid off immediately. Microphonics in
the pre are almost gone, while the sound is better focused and more
transparent---Real easy to hear on my system---Great, especially in relation to the price."
Jeff Fox, Falls Church, Virginia
"The sound is definitely better---better definition and focus---less ringing."
Gerald Grochowski, Redondo Beach, California
"I don't believe the focus, clarity and speed (no hangovers) your products are
achieving in my system. May the Lord prosper you in your enterprise---these
devices perform according to the ads! By the way, your product is replacing
Pearl tube coolers and Ensemble Tubesox."
David Dailey, Austin, Texas
"Installed HAL-O 9s in my SF Line 3 SE Linestage and my BAT VK P5 Phono --
they work like a champ."
Dennis Najuch, Bridgewater, Massachusetts
"All I can say is WOW!! They are everything everyone has said about them. The
'Halos' bring the Zens up to another level. I can't believe there was that much
image smearing going on. Geeze, goose bump factor has gone up even at
moderate levels. Outstanding, worthwhile, co$t effective product! I'm impressed
. Now, I'm waiting on the NOS tubes to arrive. How much better can it get?"
Jeff Blackburn, Amarillo, Texas
"I spent all weekend gradually adding dampers to the system, fooling around
with different combinations and approaches. My verdict: Wow!
"The tube dampers made an especially big difference. I never knew how
microphonic my AVVT 2a3s were until I eliminated this trait through the use of your dampers.
"The interconnect dampers and tenderfeet also made a small, but nonetheless
noticeable difference in my system.
"Many thanks to you for making such great products. Thanks also for your
incredibly friendly and quick service."
Shaun Pearson, Dartmouth, Nova Scotia
"I was sceptical at first, but after listening to Horowitz play Scarlatti a couple of
dozen times with and without the HAL-Os, I know it's not my imagination. The
HAL-Os impart a bell-like tone to notes that's really magical."
David Hall, Alpharetta, Georgia
"First impression is WOW!! I can really tell an immediate difference. The Tigris
has a total of 16 tubes and it really does make a huge, HUGE difference.
Attached is a photo of my now very happy Tigris. I'm also using the Square
Footing under the feet of the Tigris.
"There is not as much glare and the details really come out of the music. The
bass is a lot deeper too. Much more musical, smooth sounding and easier to listen to than before.
"I was thinking about selling the Tigris -- no way now!
"I'm thoroughly convinced that not using the Hal-O's (at least with a Tigris) is a big oops."
George Chirayus, London, UK
"I installed the HALOs on my Zen Select. I have been listening for the past four
hours and they are superb! I would not have imagined how much of a
difference they made. Sure, some improvement, but not to the level I experienced tonight.
"They lifted several veiled layers to expose soundstage I hoped the Zen had, but
never experienced to this level. All for the price of an entry level pair of
interconnects! They really are that good. I'm keeping them!"
Warren Gibson, Lahaina, Hawaii
"I installed all of the HAL-O's the day I got them and I was stunned. The
difference was immediate and amazing. The tweak of the century! And BTW, I
am very impressed with your customer service."
Bill Hunt, Birmingham, UK
"Absolutely remarkable! The effect on my 1962 NOS Siemens E88CC(6922)
valves has been remarkable! The CD playing (Handel's La Resurrectione) really
DOES sound like a live performance! I can't write further since I have to go back
to listen to the music. God knows when I will be able to persuade myself to go to bed!"
Paul Bui, Milpitas, California
"So far I've tried your tube dampers, interconnect dampers, and the smallest
size Tenderfoot footers. I found that all claims in the HAL-O literature are true, and more.
"All together, the Damping Instruments bring the best out of my system. The
sound just gets 'bigger'; bass seems to be of a very fine solid-state amp, highs
are scarily detailed, extended and pleasantly airy. The SET ever-magical
midrange is intact and untouched, only with better definition and larger size
w/o having to turn up the volume. On superb recordings, a consistent
impression is HUGE soundstage and vocal body, incredible DEPTH that is way
farther than the back wall. It's a pleasure to note that I can now listen to and
explore all tracks of a CD with tremendous joy, unlike the past fatiguing factor
that limited me to selecting only certain tracks (sometimes only one or two) on
supposedly very musical CDs. I hear tactile texture and tuneful detail that let me
feel the bass line, rich harmonics, and tons of detail that I've never 'heard' before."
Hin Chiu, Sugar Land, Texas
"I have installed the Halo-9s in my BAT VK 5i, and run it for 10 hours. The
improvement of the sound is incremental, not day and night. This is due to the
fact that my system was delivering high fidelity sound, so there was little room
for improvement. The sound after the installation of the Halo is more definitive
across the sound spectrum. This set of Halo will stay in the VK 5i."
Irving R. Clemo, Castro Valley, California
"Installed my HALOs on my Audio Mirror SET monos -- man, what a difference!
Much cleaner, much more separation and detail, and MUCH better bass! The
sound is a little firmer, but is loaded with life-like verve, snap, extension and
harmonic balance -- a lot like a good NOS Sylvania tube. Vinyl especially is
another world entirely; my records now have much more authority and life force
to them. An amazing difference! Couldn't be more satisfied."
Benjamin Lyons, New Orleans, Louisiana
"The Halos have made my system sound even better."
Larry Welsh, New York, New York
"Thanks for the great service, got 'em today. Frankly, I'm astounded at the
difference they make.
"I'm running a Golden Tube Audio SE MkII with Mullard GZ34, KR 300BXLS's,
Mullard 6CA7's and RCA red base 5691's, all of which are reputed to be among
the more non-microphonic of their types. But, frankly, I'm blown away. I only
play favorites when comparing tweaks, in this case Randy Newman's 'Faust' CD.
Instantly, there was a huge improvement in soundstage and imaging. Detail is
vastly improved and a slight 'tizziness' on top is totally gone. The sound is more
mellow and laid-back than I remember, but I guess that's the point. At the same
time, I've gained an octave of 'music' both top and bottom. Additionally, the
limits of my not-yet-fully-tweaked Hammer Dynamics Super 12's (which I built)
have been revealed for the first time.
"I also played a Brubeck LP, 'Time Changes,' on my analog setup and feel that
I've finally almost reached audio nirvana!"
Kevin Grier, Norman, Oklahoma
"WOW, these puppies really make a difference. The background is blacker, low
level sounds are more focused and beautiful, the soundstage is more palpable,
hanging out in the air (I guess this is what people mean by "holographic"),
there is more focus and detail without loss of beauty and pleasure in listening.
At ten bucks or so a pop, I recommend them highly.
Vidar Benonisen, Tromsų, Norway
"I just have to write and tell you that with my Hal-O inside my 6DJ8-equipped
DAC, the musical presentation of my system has been transformed. Everything is
cleaner, more open and extended as well as more focused and palpable. There is
a little less midbass but I guess that was some kind of microphonics or
acoustical feedback. Needless to say --- I am very pleased with the result of this tweak."
Felix Aksentsev, Pitt Meadows, Canada
"Your stuff is working fine in my system with clearly audible results. I would be
happy to recommend it to anyone who might need to add that final touch to their established set-up."
Sidney Wang, Nesconset, New York
"The HAL-O 9s work very well on my BAT VK-50SE. The improvement was as
apparent as a component upgrade, even to my lady friend's untrained ears in a
casual listening setting."
Reed Lombart, Roanoke, Virginia
"Seriously, there is an immediate and appreciable improvement. I'm a true
believer and will highly tout the virtues of the HAL-O Damping Instruments to my fellow audio gonzos."
Norm Luttbeg, College Station, Texas
"I got the Hal-O 60s today and put them on my TJ300Bs. The noise level
dropped and everything is so much more vivid and dynamic. Great stuff."
Cliff Schaumburg, Falls Church, Virginia
"Received my HAL-O 9s and installed them on the pre-amp and reverb driver
tubes in my Alessandro Working Dog guitar amplifier. I've played it in excess of
eight hours in two sessions and haven't heard anything but guitar (that's a
good thing, by the way). Prior to installing the HAL-O devices, every tube I put
in these positions would feed back after an hour or so. I haven't noticed any of
the subtleties of tone that I read about in some of the reviews. I attribute that
to the nature of the beast though. The big difference is now I can use pretty
much any of the 12AX7 and 12AT7 tubes in my collection without microphonic
feedback and that's good enough for me. Good product. I will recommend it to my friends. Thanks."
Thomas Aronsohn, Paso Robles, California
"I noticed an appreciative increase in detail and bass definition."
John Taylor, South Clamorgan, UK
"I'm sure you are more than used to receiving testimonials from satisfied
customers. All I can say is that having built a tube amp after many years (God
rest Heathkit!) and discovering what music should sound like, I was of the
opinion that Black Gates, paper-in-oil caps, Kiwame resistors, silver solder, etc.,
was about all you could do to get the best. How wrong I was---the Damping
Instruments really do put the icing on the cake."
Jonathan Tinn, Tenor Amps
"WOW!!! What a nice improvement. I am recommending them to everyone I know."
Lok Hee Chan, Hong Kong
"I'm a user of these products--- the tube dampers and the damping feet, and
I'm glad to tell you that I like them and they work. I live in Hong Kong and
these were sent to me without extra charge for the mail; excellent service!
"I gave two Hal-O 9's to a friend in Germany to try. He is a tube seller and has
microphonic testing equipment. After he tried the dampers with various brands
of 9-pin small-signal tubes (most were the troublesome 6DJ8/6922 family), he
found that the tube dampers would yield a reduction of microphonics around
6~8 dB, depending on the positon of the dampers."
Alan Clifford, Nottinghamshire, UK
"I've never found a 'tweak' that didn't make me think I'm probably just
imagining a difference, until the Hal-o's. Findings so far using Heart CDP6000
and Reflektor 6H23 tubes: A remarkable tidying up of a slightly lumpy bass, a
strengthening of the timbre of cymbals and hi hats, wider soundstage. Taking
off the Hal-o's made the system sound flat in comparison.
"I am very impressed with what I've heard so far and wouldn't have expected
such a difference, many thanks."
Jim Yeasky, Toms River, New Jersey
"I received the Hal-O's yesterday afternoon. Installed and auditioned them last
night. I LIKED what I heard. To use fishing lingo, these are keepers. I am going
to set up an analog tube front end soon, so I foresee the need for many more of
your Hal-O's. I now can't envision using a tube without your damping
instrument. I used the Hal-O's on my ASL Explorer DT mono blocks which use
ECC83 input, KT88 driver and 805 50w triode output tubes. WOW!"
Stanley Wong, Bellerose, New York
"Thanks, great product and even better service."
Kurt Miller, Worthington, Ohio
"I came across your products by accident via the web and went ahead and
ordered for all the tubes. I have a Cary SLI-80 all-tube integrated that has all
the best NOS replacement tubes and, with Shakti Stones on the transformers,
sounds great. But I knew things could be better.
"I started by using a couple of very familiar CD's and SACD's. I started with HAL
-O's around the SN7's then added the 6922's, the KT-88's, and finally the RU4's.
Each time I added a set of HAL-O's, things got noticeably better right away. I
would not call the effect subtle and altogether the result was breathtaking ---
especially in triode mode! I expected good results with input tubes, but I would
have not believed it would make such a difference on power and rectifier tubes.
Your product is superb!"
Rob Cherry, San Clemente, California
"I'll be. Tonight, for the first time, when I flipped the toggle switch on the
Manleys there was no microphonic noise as there has always been in the past.
Perhaps, bass was a bit more focused and with, again perhaps, somewhat better tone. Interesting."
Steven Jeffcoat, Herndon, Virginia
"I received my Hal-O's last week. I put them on all six Siemens 6922's in my
Sonic Frontiers Line-1. Immediately there was a layer of grunge that was
stripped away and music just became clearer and more focused. I can
understand the clarity issue, but the improvement in imaging was a real surprise
. Instrument placement was just so much more exact."
Bob Lietz, The Analog Shop
"Wonderful product. Get the dampers---they work!"
Glenn Oey, Oakland, California
"I'm very happy with the HAL-O tube dampers. It did more than take care of my
microphonics problem. Sonically, it improved in areas I did not expect. Tighter
bass & improved imaging are a couple of obvious areas."
Youichi Yoshida, Kawasaki-shi, Japan
"These be very cool gadgets. And I love the way they look."
Charles Cheng, Irvine, California
"Seems to have a more controlled sound, more detail and tighter base."
Robby Chandra, Jakarta, Indonesia
"I have tried the dampers on my preamp and amp. The result is great! The
sound now is quieter, better bass and it really decreases the tube's
microphonics. Does it totally eliminate microphonics? I'm not sure, all I know I
hear improvement on my system."
Bob Wellen, Washington, DC
"Your package with my tube dampers arrived yesterday. I installed them on my
Emotive Audio Eraro preamp last night, and I know now what you mean. The
old type 27s, which can be microphonic when in a bad mood, got quieter, and
the music got more vivid. A small but audible improvement."
Indranil Dandaroy, Wichita, Kansas
"I got the dampers and have tried it in my system briefly for a couple hours. I
do hear some improvements. The difference is not night and day but not very
subtle either. Tone is a bit better, the clarity is improved a bit and presentation is more relaxed."
Choy Seong Lin, Melbourne, Australia
"I warmed up my Welborne Labs Laurel amps for about half an hour and had a
good listen to my favourite track before fitting the HAL-Os onto the 300Bs. And
WOAH! A really, really evident change in the sound! A change for the better that
is. Instruments sounded cleaner and clearer, vocals became more forward
-sounding and very well defined! I didn't think that it would bring such a big
improvement to the overall sound!"
Vince Cannistraro, McLean, Virginia
"The tube dampers work as advertised. They significantly minimize
microphonics and I especially notice a difference on some older tubes. Having
tried a number of other so-called tube dampers, including some from 3M that
were eventually discontinued (they turned to rubberized mush on some EL-84
tubes), I would have no hesitation in recommending the HAL-O Vacuum Tube
Damping Instruments. They are the best."
Brendan Biever, Tube World
"It's a funky little device. I'm using one in my preamp."
Steve Kaelin, San Jose, California
"WOW!! Noticed a difference right away with the HAL-O 9s on my Music
Reference RM-10 input tubes. I'm now getting greater focus with less overall
grunge in the upper frequencies. All in all, the best $30.00 I've ever spent on
my system. I don't know what magic substance you're putting in your dampers,
but it sure does wonders on my 12AX7s. Great product for a great price. Keep up the good work!"
Michael Veit, Munich, Germany
"After I installed the tube dampers, I couldn't believe the difference. I had
excessive microphonic problems with the line and phono stage. I have a Beck
RV1 preamp. The difference is like night and day."
Fred Nater, Flemington, New Jersey
"I installed the HAL-0-9 on the 12BH7 driver tube of my amp. I am very
impressed with the outcome!"
Robin Wyatt, Basking Ridge, New Jersey
"They are great. My phono stage on the Wright Sound WPL 20 never sounded
as silent and smooth! The difference on the line stage is tremendous. The whole
preamp is HAL-Oed! Highly recommended!!"
Harry Lum, Nevada City, California
"The dampers seem to work fine -- around the shoulder of the Western Electric
300B's. There seems to be a considerable reduction of glare, and the bass
sounds much tighter. The results seem to indicate how greatly microphonics
affect even the best of tubes."
Joe Duray, Los Angeles, California
"I am a convert to Hal-O's. I purchased two dampers, and soon thereafter
purchased eight more. The effect on my system was to eliminate frequency
exaggerations caused by my tubes picking up resonance frequencies. The
difference was significant and immediate without impacting the coloration of the
type of tube used. For example, I use a pinched waist Amperex 6922 in the line
output of my pre-amp. Your tube damper significantly reduced the harmonics of
this tube (which are notorious) and improved imaging without reducing the 'air'
to the sound that this tube creates.
"Also to my surprise, your tube damper works significantly on a rectifier tube as
well (6CA4). Resonances of my listening room were being picked up by this
tube, and the result was an exaggerated bass at certain frequencies. This was
immediately eliminated when I put on a damper.
"Please put my comments on your satisfied customer list."
Jeff Smith, Chagrin Falls, Ohio
"There's a more linear sound. They have made a big improvement in the sound
quality of my preamp."
David Schiavone, Acoustic Zen Technologies
"The effect was pretty immediate; everything cleared up and was more focused."
Dan Blazevick, Columbus, Ohio
"At first I was not sure the dampers were working to my benefit. Then I
ordered a few more sets, and while they were on the way, things seemed to
snap into focus with the first set. Now I can't live without them on my small
signal tubes. Even use a pair on the ultra quiet Cryovac tubes."
Stuart Hall, Houston, Texas
"The HAL-O tube dampers arrived safely on Saturday. I decided I'd give them
an acid test. One of my favorite 6922-type tubes is the Mullard E88CC-01. I love
the sound of it, but it is notoriously microphonic. Basically anyone who's dealt
with it says that it's a very musical tube, but that in critical preamp situations it
can 'ping' whenever a switch is turned or a relay flips. I've found that to be the case.
"Imagine my surprise when the usual 'ping' was gone. Unbridled Mullard
warmth, even from this tube with its inherent problems. I think my situation was
particularly taxing in the Ah! Njoe Tjoeb CD player, since the tubes are very near
the transport (and thus near vibration) and across from the HUGE relay.
Previously, any time you'd hit 'play' or access a track, you'd get the 'ping-ringdown.' Not anymore!
"So, short story, I think they work."
Added:
"Given how hot the tubes get in the Ah! (since it's a closed box), how would the
Hal-O dampers stand up? It's been months, and I opened and they look as new
(and fit as snugly) as the day I got them in the mail."
Alan Kafton, HAL-O Dealer
"My customer was in disbelief when I put two Halo-9's on the cathode followers
on his preamp. As a DIY guy, he didn't think this would make a bit of difference.
The upshot? He's ordering eight (8) Halo-9's for his preamp and phono stage,
and two Halo-45's for his 2A3 amps."
Frank Goldfarb, N. Miami Beach, Florida
"The HAL-O dampers in my preamp have made a significant, worthwhile, and
economical improvement. They're a terrific value, and I highly recommend them
and you can quote me on that."
Stanley Yamane, Needham, Massachusetts
"I made a mistake in my order and only ordered one HAL-O 9, but it provided
me a chance to do a mini-experiment. I'd recently finished adding my
Anticipation upgrade to my Foreplay preamp and, while happy, had felt that the
sound was more 'bloomy' than I remembered.
"I put the HAL-O on just one of the tubes and played a few tracks. After just a
few, it seemed clear that the damped channel was cleaner and a lot more
focused than the other one. However, I know how easy it is to fool yourself into
thinking something is 'working,' so I decided to test what I was hearing. I
recorded my impressions of each channel, then played the same tracks with the
HAL-O switched to the other side. The clarity and focus moved to the other
channel across all the test tracks.
"So, not a double-blind A-B-X test, but I did enter the test with a certain
amount of skepticism and came away very pleased with the changes the HAL-O is making.
"Anyway, I'm sending in my HAL-O order for the other tube right now, then it's
off to play with the grungebuster CD mat.
"Thanks for making such a great product!"
Martin Gabel, Houston, Texas
"Boy, they are pretty good. The difference is truly remarkable."
Douglas Piccard, Port Matilda, Pennsylvania
"Completely satisfied."
Keith Fertig, Mogadore, Ohio
"I'd say the HAL-O's improved everything 10 percent. The low/mid bass detail
improved dramatically; I heard notes I've never heard before. Midrange is just phenomenal."
Elton Evans, Carson, California
"Things bloomed in front of my ears! Placement and Sound stage got very
focused and voices became 3D and centered! Amazing!! The best part the room
is not set up yet! So I know it can only get better, because I now can see what my system can do!"
Bryan Petrtyl, Columbus, Ohio
"I was shocked at the very noticeable difference."
Gene Fachin, San Diego, California
"The tube damps worked--- quiet, cleared up the sound. Better detail, top end
opened up. My number one priority is micro-dynamics and you need a very low
noise floor--- these helped."
Gerard Lim, Vancouver, Canada
"The difference that I heard was significant. The improvements are as follows:
1. Improved Soundstage. Brought the sound behind the back wall with an overall wider soundstage.
2. Greater Presence. More pronounced, lifelike vocals.
3. Improved Clarity.
"I did have some apprehension that what I heard altered the character of the
tubes. So just to be sure, I tube rolled and found that the improvement was
consistent with other tubes as well. I concluded that rather than altering the
character, these instruments enhanced the tubes."
Chaiyo Tangwongsan, Bangkok, Thailand
"I enjoy the improvements that these accessories (tube dampers, tenderfeet, CD
mat, and turntable mat) bring to my system."
Dave Clayden, Noosaville, Australia
"The tube dampers have been in place a few days and are working very well. A
good all round improvement. Thanks for the prompt service and fine product."
Brian Gibson, Carbondale, Illinois
"I like the last batch of stuff so much that I've returned to throw more money at
you. You're not getting the HAL-O 27s or the HAL-O JRs back, bye-the-bye. Thanks for the good stuff!"
William Felt, Escondido, California
"They have already made a great improvement -- longer sustain on the bass, less sibilance."
Chea Peng Hoong, Singapore
"I don't know how to use any of the audiophile terms to descibe the results.
Basically, I feel the music out from my speakers is more musical. Violin no longer
sounds like a saw sawing on the string. I hear music, feel music. Serious."
Lyle Harbour, Dandenong, Australia
"Fair Dinkum WOW! I am hearing a better and more cohesive sound than I
have experienced in a while."
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Questions?
1.973.239.1799
