Looking for a Tube preamp with Tube Rectifier stage <= $/£/€ 3000

Tradition is the main reason you see tube rectifiers in tube power amps. Quite often when that is the case, you will also see that the amplifier circuit itself is from the 1950s or 1960s.


5AR4s have a controlled warmup characteristic, so they do get used in tube circuits to prevent cathode stripping of the power tubes. There really isn't a reason to use one in a preamp. Dan Wright's circuit probably sounded good due to proper design, not the rectifier, and I agree he's done some nice work with his CD player mods. I liked his Oppo mod quite a lot- we used it at AXPONA a few years ago. 

Just want to thank Ralph Karsten (atmasphere) for his consistency and generosity in sharing both factual and experiential information regarding audio reproduction...of which the above is an example...always a worthwhile read.  Thank you! 

@gkg2k-What do you want the tube rectifier to do for you? You are getting a lot of advice, both for and against.