RAY TUBES
Some people believe new production tubes are all interchangeable. Nothing could be further from the truth. We pride ourselves on being involved in every step of the supply chain. On this page, we want to give the interested layperson an overview of each of those steps.
Our manufacturing starts with the basic materials and components every tube is built from. Those components, in turn, are defined by our product specification—a combination of the basic tube specs that have been around for decades, plus our own proprietary refinements. (You might notice that some of our tubes are visually different to other tubes of the same type. This is why.) We commission suppliers and manufacturing partners to build the tubes according to our bespoke criteria, then each batch goes through our strict quality control process. Finally, we package and distribute the tubes through our own logistics facilities.
You might think of vacuum tubes as a solved problem. Some types of tubes have been in production for almost a century with few changes to the formula. That’s as may be, but we'd point out that the same is true of beer, and it hasn't stopped people from tinkering and producing unique new brews. That's the philosophy we adopt when we develop our products. We question every part of the process, identifying places where things like component quality or bulb design can be iterated on. We don't claim to reinvent the wheel—only make it better.
When you talk to people who have been in the audio industry for decades, whether they’re circuit designers or factory engineers, you often hear them talk about their dream project—the thing they’d make if they could set aside all received wisdom and constraints. That’s how we approach product development. We ask the people who know tubes best to describe their ideal tube, and then we figure out how to get as close to ideal as possible.
You might think of vacuum tubes as a solved problem. Some types of tubes have been in production for almost a century with few changes to the formula. That’s as may be, but we'd point out that the same is true of beer, and it hasn't stopped people from tinkering and producing unique new brews. That's the philosophy we adopt when we develop our products. We question every part of the process, identifying places where things like component quality or bulb design can be iterated on. We don't claim to reinvent the wheel—only make it better.
When you talk to people who have been in the audio industry for decades, whether they’re circuit designers or factory engineers, you often hear them talk about their dream project—the thing they’d make if they could set aside all received wisdom and constraints. That’s how we approach product development. We ask the people who know tubes best to describe their ideal tube, and then we figure out how to get as close to ideal as possible.
Because we develop our own specifications, we can’t always rely on standard materials and components. Instead, we collaborate with a wide network of potential suppliers and approve the ones that are able to meet our criteria for purity and quality. The details vary depending on the product. Our SELECT and RESERVE Collections both use gold-plated pins, for example, and for RESERVE we insist on even higher standards for base metal purity. Once we've identified suitable suppliers, it's time to head to the factory.
Unlike New Old Stock, which contained toxic materials like lead and beryllium oxide, our tubes are made with modern components that make them safer for the user, much safer for our colleagues at the factory, and far better for the environment. Our products are fully compliant with the European Union's Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive, a regulation that's widely considered a benchmark for safety in electronics manufacturing. Meeting this sort of standard ought to be a given, but that doesn't stop some industries from cutting corners. We don't. All of our tubes are made in RoHS-certified facilities, because no one should ever have to sacrifice their health in pursuit of a quality vacuum tube.
Because we develop our own specifications, we can’t always rely on standard materials and components. Instead, we collaborate with a wide network of potential suppliers and approve the ones that are able to meet our criteria for purity and quality. The details vary depending on the product. Our SELECT and RESERVE Collections both use gold-plated pins, for example, and for RESERVE we insist on even higher standards for base metal purity. Once we've identified suitable suppliers, it's time to head to the factory.
Unlike New Old Stock, which contained toxic materials like lead and beryllium oxide, our tubes are made with modern components that make them safer for the user, much safer for our colleagues at the factory, and far better for the environment. Our products are fully compliant with the European Union's Restriction of Hazardous Substances (RoHS) Directive, a regulation that's widely considered a benchmark for safety in electronics manufacturing. Meeting this sort of standard ought to be a given, but that doesn't stop some industries from cutting corners. We don't. All of our tubes are made in RoHS-certified facilities, because no one should ever have to sacrifice their health in pursuit of a quality vacuum tube.
Making vacuum tubes is a tricky process. There's only a handful of factories in the world with the necessary equipment and expertise to do it. We work with several different manufacturing partners, depending on the tube—some factories are better suited to 300Bs, others to 12AU7s. In each case, our engineers are present on the factory floor to ensure the production meets our specifications. (Our quality control happens here, too, but we won't go into it right now. There's a whole separate page for that!)
It's easy to talk in generalities, so let us put our money where our mouth is. Here are three things we do differently.
Making vacuum tubes is a tricky process. There's only a handful of factories in the world with the necessary equipment and expertise to do it. We work with several different manufacturing partners, depending on the tube—some factories are better suited to 300Bs, others to 12AU7s. In each case, our engineers are present on the factory floor to ensure the production meets our specifications. (Our quality control happens here, too, but we won't go into it right now. There's a whole separate page for that!)
It's easy to talk in generalities, so let us put our money where our mouth is. Here are three things we do differently.
Putting the Vacuum in Vacuum Tube
We spend twice as long as most manufacturers on the most critical step of all: creating the vacuum inside our tubes. It's one of the reasons our tubes have a notably low noise floor, so you can crank up the volume with confidence.
Basic Component, Advanced Materials
Our anode coating is an advanced formulation sourced from a specialist supplier. It helps the anode shed heat and limits outgassing, making it one of the most efficient ways to improve tube quality and longevity.
Strong, Reliable Connections
The solder we use around the pin joints is lead-free and silver-bearing. The silver improves conductivity, making for a better signal to and from your amp, and the alloy is more durable (and safer!) than standard lead-based solder.
After quality control, our tubes have earned the right to bear the Ray Tubes label. We transfer them to one of our facilities, where we work with a screen printer to apply our logo and product name. The tubes are then packaged on-site and prepared for transport to our distribution facilities, from where they make their way into your hands.