Axial Type Tube Sockets

The TriAxial and BiAxial shock mounted tube sockets were an offset of the Axiom Amplifier Development Program. Compared to current and vintage sockets, they offer a significant improvement in low level detail resolution, transient performance and imaging. Their unique three point shock mounting with Ear Isoloss Grommets literally eliminates any tube microphonics. But the key to their sound performance is the plastic the socket is machined from.

The Axial Series Tube Sockets are not made out of Teflon. They are made out of a special crosslinked Polystyrene. Teflon is really not suitable for audio tube sockets and, compared to some modern “high tech” plastics, is really not that good as an audio insulator. But, due to its reputation, using it does sell products. Teflon is too soft and “cold forms”. This means that any pressure, from a tube pin receptacle for example, will force the Teflon to deform. This explains why customers using the Teflon sockets experience problems with long term reliable tube pin contact and have even had the tube contacts fall out.

Teflon is more permeable than many modern high tech plastics. It will absorb gas and moisture over time which will degrade its performance. Compared to the better polyethylene and polystyrene plastic, its Dissipation Factor is too high. Most audio designers now acknowledge that an insulator’s Dissipation Factor, the lower the better, is the biggest factor in an insulator’s audio sound performance. Let’s compare Teflon, the Axial Plastic and the materials commonly used in tube sockets.

The special crosslinked polystyrene material used in the Axial Tube Sockets has over 7 times the yield strength of Teflon, 12.5 times less permeability and a Dissipation Factor 33.3 times better than Teflon. It’s Dielectric Constant is 1.2 times higher than Teflon, 2.5 instead of 2.1.

Ceramic Sockets = Dielectric Constant = 5.5..Dissipation Factor=0.005..Water Absorption=2.000%
Phenolic Sockets = Dielectric Constant = 5.4..Dissipation Factor=0.080..Water Absorption=0.033%
Micalex Sockets = Dielectric Constant = 8.6..Dissipation Factor=0.0115..Water Absorption=0.000%
Teflon Sockets = Dielectric Constant = 2.1..Dissipation Factor=0.0004..Water Absorption=0.010%
Axial Sockets = Dielectric Constant = 2.5..Dissipation Factor=0.00012..Water Absorption=0.0008%

In my listening experience Teflon has a slight time/phase smear that obscures low level detail resolution. Matthew Bond of Tara Labs has done some nice work on insulation material analysis, you might want to go to the Tara Labs web site and read through his tech papers. People are starting to realize there are better insulators than Teflon, it will just take a while for the Audio Community to get over it. After all there are still people who swear Bakelite is best. Bakelite’s numbers are very similar to Phenolic.

The tube pin receptacles or contacts are constructed of Plated Beryillium Copper.

Octal, Compactron, and 4 pin(300B) sockets will be manufactured. These sockets will also be offered with a two point shock mounting system that mount in the standard tube socket chassis holes. Introductory price for both types is $50.00 each. A 9 pin miniature tube will be considered if there is enough interest.

Complete Data Analysis and drawings will be published on this web page as they are completed.

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