Orange Valve Tester MkII Ensures Your Tubes Are Adequately Juiced

The Orange Valve Tester MkII is the successor to the Orange VT1000, which was recognised as the world's first automatic digital valve tester, developed and patented by Orange.

Built in the UK, the Orange Valve Tester MkII efficiently conducts a variety of tests with speed, simplicity, and accuracy. The company claims it sets a "new world standard in valve-testing technology" for both hi-fi enthusiasts and service professionals.

This device features fully automatic testing and matching capabilities, ensuring optimal valve performance across a wide range of audio valve equipment. It allows you to easily maintain quality and maximise performance while minimising distortion in your hi-fi amplifier caused by substandard, worn, or faulty valves.

At the core of the unit is a sophisticated microprocessor-controlled testing system that performs a series of complex inter-electrode switching and measurement tasks. Fortunately, you don't need any knowledge of valve theory; simply insert the valve into the appropriate socket, select the valve type from the list, and press 'OK'. After a short wait, the status of the valve being tested will be displayed.

The Orange Valve Tester MkII features "greatly improved" algorithms and an updated database that includes test results for hundreds of new, used, and faulty valves, making it significantly more intelligent than its predecessor.

All the required voltages for testing are derived internally, stabilised, and controlled, which allows for rapid static and transient testing without generating unnecessary heat.

Additionally, the new model offers a higher current capacity, enhanced grid leakage detection testing, a new thermal runaway test, and a digital microphony function to test pre-amp valves. Furthermore, the latest rugged mechanical design includes improved valve sockets.

Hi-fi enthusiasts will particularly appreciate the optional expansion modules that allow for testing directly heated valves, such as the 300B, as well as other valve types, including the EF86 and the rectifier valve GZ34. Workbench mounting brackets are also available.

The Orange Valve Tester MkII is available now, priced at £850. The optional GZ34/5AR4 module costs £195.

For more information visit Orange