The only thing I've never liked on my Elekit TU-8340 is the octal sockets. The porcelain seemed sloppy around the tube's centre key and the contacts did not inspire confidence. So I cracked them with ViceGrip pliers, I had to crack each one a few times, then easily removed the pins individually.
I replaced them with Teflon composite sockets. These are available from Partsconnexion and DIY Hifi Supply. I pressed the sockets as close to the board as possible then raised them about 1mm before soldering so they would protrude through the top of the chassis slightly.
Tubes now index more easily and the pins seem to grip the pins more securely.
Cheers, Steve Graham
I replaced them with Teflon composite sockets. These are available from Partsconnexion and DIY Hifi Supply. I pressed the sockets as close to the board as possible then raised them about 1mm before soldering so they would protrude through the top of the chassis slightly.
Tubes now index more easily and the pins seem to grip the pins more securely.
Cheers, Steve Graham