the future?

[shooter]

My son ask me check this out, I read the blurbs, has anyone played through an amp with this?

http://www.korg.com/us/news/2015/012212/

[vibrolax]

No, I haven't played with anything related to the nutube.  It's the kind of thing I would generally ignore as 100% gimmick.  But Pete Millett, a mostly hi-fi tube guy who done a lot of interesting stuff over the years, seems to be the US agent for this "new" tube technology.  At $49 a piece, it's a pretty expensive "tube".

See http://www.nutube.us/

Pete Millett's website http://www.pmillett.com/index.html

[shooter]

thanks for the link.
I think it might wind up in my next build, or the one after

Stole this quote from the millet site;
"An FFT under these conditions shows typical single-ended triode characteristics."
I looked at the last FFT I had, (pse 6V6), and they line up nice!

[drgonzonm]

Several months ago, there was a discussion on the forum regarding this technology. 

I can see some uses, like a DI, or V1 on an amp. 

Look at the specs, low power output. 

I like the direct cathode on the unit.  Matter of fact, the diamond crystal technology, would make direct heat cathode a little more appealing.  (Still trying to figure out how to degas the tube, without oxidizing the diamonds. 

under the right conditions, I can see multi-watt power tubes feeding an OT, 

Its cousin is the display on your microwave. 

Is it the future, oops I just dropped by crystal ball, and smashed the chip. 

Would like to see some applications   a quick web search did not show any. 

No hum no buzz that you don't need, Korg's Nutube is bad as class D. [certified heater filament free]  (sung to Alcapulco Gold tune)

I pulled a a data sheet from November 2016, converted to 150 dpi and bw, for download. can this chip replace a 12ax7 on those tube pedals. 

[shooter]

V1 on an amp.  Look at the specs, low power output. 

That's where my brain went, a nice "black blackbox" pre-amp, 2 chips, 2 channels, 1 chip, TS driver n recovery.
I was in my "creative" state of mind so things like full height 31/2" slide in disk trays, only for amps were hopping outta the smoke

[turtle441]

FWIW, there are some products on the market utilizing the technology.  Google/YouTube the Vox MV50 line.  They're still hybrid amps, but they don't sound half bad.

[shooter]

YouTube the Vox MV50

thx, that's how this began for me, my Son is a resent Vox convert, from fender twin, It only took him 15 years
I like electronics in all it's forms, especially the one's you see in the side shows

[PRR]

> the future?

The past.

Remember the 1990s? Among other nostalgia, many microwaves and VCRs had a glowing display which was not LEDs. It was VFD, Vacuum Fluorescent Display. Electrons and phosphors. The particular thrill is that segments, letters/numbers, and even logos and words ("Delco", "popcorn") could be stamped into the phosphor plate at low added cost.

They lingered a long time. I have a cheap 2014 microwave uses one. But LEDs and LCDs ate the market. A large factory has been closed.

Apparently KORG got in, got the small-run prototype line left running. With low-cost mods, it "is" a vacuum tube.

An incredibly pathetic vacuum tube. Makes the '01 look like a champ. (Well, the NuTube filament power is microscopic.)

So pathetic that I don't think it in any way replicates our Good Old Tubes. And costs a heck of a lot more. (It should be $5, not $50; I'm sure KORG's invoice for a crate is a lot lower than our retail price.)

[shooter]

The past.

After competing in the Navy for that "final school" I made the cut, and got to learn n work on "the 1st Digital Radar".  The 1st day I asked, why nixies and not LED display?, the reply, we use IC's to drive them
Thanks for the council, I'll save my money for future endeavors

[jjasilli]

Ditto to PRR. It has a mu of only 12.  And with a plate resistance of a whopping 300K,  it will need a tube buffer.   

[PRR]

> tube buffer

IIRC, the app-note suggests a JFET or an op-amp??

But yeah.... it is so lame it can hardly drive another grid/gate.

AND to get that far you have to smack the input into Positive Grid mode. It isn't a large grid current, but enough to load-down guitar or most g-amp interstage networks.

At $5 it could have uses. At $50 asking price, I'd rather buy some nice sneakers that will do a lot more work than a Nu-Tube.

[drgonzonm]

> the future?

The past. ....

Future of the past?   
Add a few IC's and op-amps, we have very low power class D amps, being played Jiminy Cricket.  90% efficent, with a battery smaller than a 16 penny nail head. add blue tooth
Grab that bass speaker that amplifies phones, and we have a wireless amp about the size of a coffee pot.   

maybe we can build a few and get on shark tank. 
 

[shooter]

Future of the past?

 
I like it!, is that now?