Specifications

O W N E R S M A N U A L

Decware High Fidelity Engineering Co., East Peoria IL, USA www.decware.com

QUICK START GUIDE - CHECKLIST

Make sure you have the following items for each channel

•

Ampliﬁer

•

PowerCord

•

2 of the larger KT88 output tubes (8 pin)

•

2 of the smaller 6N1P or 6922 input tubes (9 pin)

1) Install the tubes into the ampliﬁer.

Note: The large 8 pin tubes have a plastic center guide pin that ﬁts into a notched

keyway in the socket. It is important to ﬁgure out before installing the tube what the

proper alignment should be. Once you get it to line up properly, the tube can be

gently pushed into the socket until it seats. During both installation and removal it is

important to install and remove the tubes in a straight in-and-out fashion with as little

rocking as possible.

The smaller 9 pin tubes are easier to see how to align and are plugged straight into the

socket and removed by pulling straight out. These too should not be excessively

rocked or tipped as it can damage the pins or even the socket. On 9 pin tubes it is

important to visually inspect the pins to be sure they are straight. Since the pins are

smaller in diameter they are easy to bend and are often slightly bent from handling.

These pins can be carefully straightened by hand or you can purchase a tube pin

straightener from most tube suppliers that makes the task quick and simple. Installing

9 pin tubes with pins that are not straight will damage the socket of the ampliﬁer, an

item not easily replaced since the main circuitry is directly soldered to the socket pins.

Another note about tubes and straight pins is this: Many tubes, being blown glass and

assembled by hand, are not perfectly straight relative to the base of the tube and or

tube pins. It is common for some tubes to be slightly crooked. This has nothing to do

with how straight the pins of the tube are and should be treated as a separate issue

which is purely cosmetic.

The ideal way to clean tube pins is with a pencil eraser, and it’s a good idea to clean

even new tubes prior to plugging them into your amp.

It is acceptable to use FINITE amounts (perhaps 1 drop for all 8 or 9 pins) of “Caig

DeOxit” products to further clean and lubricate the tube sockets. Apply product to

tube pins only. A small amount of this has already been applied at the factory and

should last at least a year.