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5AR4 rectifier tube question

I am sort of shopping for one or more 5AR4s for a Cary SLP05 power supply because I’d like to have at least one spare and because I’d maybe like to roll two or three ad see if I can hear an improvement or vice versa. I make no claims of knowing much about the vacuum tube game; occasionally I get lucky & stumble on something that really works for me. As far as the 5AR4, I did a hit at Uncle Kevin’s site, and there were some that looked interesting (I am thinking of one in particular, it had a Japanese sounding name that started with a ’M’) but when I click on it, all I get is a picture of Uncle Kevin’s screaming face telling me "not to buy tubes" (later, when I finally took time to read, apparently his tube tester is down).

So I started doing hits on Ebay, and oh my gosh! I was inundated with choices and the variation in prices! Which do I stay away from and which should I be interested in? Would a 5AR4 from Bugera also be suitable for what I’d want to use it for? Could a rectifier tube provide a big sonic upgrade if I spent enough money on it? Can I make a sonic upgrade from what I believe (I haven’t opened up the power supply yet) is the stock EH 5AR4 without breaking the bank? I would be totally good with the $50.00 range and picking up 2 or 3 different ones to play with if those with experience thought I could improve the power supply in that range. If I had to I guess I could go more (the $100.00 range) but I probably wouldn’t be buying too many of them, and I was kind of HOPING not to go much over that.

Anyway, thanks in advance for the input; I always consider it part of my education.

immatthewj
jackd
1,067 posts
 

Andy's got a 70's Sylvania that he likes that's the same price as the Matsushita so if you want to try two to see if you hear a difference you could buy those two for less than the price of one Blackburn Mullard.  Be warned though that Andy is way behind and Brett's stock of 5AR4's is wiped out. I've got two of the Mullard's and one Matsushita and I have tried with two different preamps to hear any appreciable difference and couldn't. The Matsushita's are that good and should be. 

rodman99999
6,125 posts
 

     +1s, for those that recommended NOS Mullards as the go-to, for tube rectifiers.                       Especially: look for those manufactured in the Blackburn plant.

     In SS, linear power supplies: upgraded rectifiers and regulators, often makes some of the most audible and dramatic improvement in presentation.     The same applies to tube components, BECAUSE (in every gain stage):

"All the signal does ultimately is to modulate the power supply DC."

 

rodman99999
6,125 posts
 

     Keep in mind: there's a plethora of variables, between that 5AR4/GZ34 and what you ultimately perceive (media/components/room/ears/brain/perspectives).

                  OH, and: NEVER accept info, from a bogus* Intelligence Operative! 

                           *What they offer will typically be in character 

                                  Happy experimenting and listening!

noske
783 posts
 

I've tried a variety of 5AR4/GZ34 rectifiers, from a metal base, a fat base, to a JJ new production and a few in-between these extremes.

Audible sonic difference = zero. 

The fat base popped after a couple weeks of use.  Oh well.

I think there may be a case for differences in guitar amps but only from what I have read on those forums - their version of a tweak?

{I see that my metal base might be worth a few bucks on eBay these days..}

 

helmholtzsoul
111 posts
 

The first valve I changed on my SLP-05 was the rectifier. I started with stock tubes and finished with Blackburn. Day 1 and 2. I left the rest. They were matched very well.

Did it make a difference? I was going to sell the unit if I couldn’t contour the tone. It added greater detail in every region. I ordered a STR-1002-SUPER rectifier from STL. I also ordered their passive tube 15 band EQ with a STR-1001 for it. BOTH are "Super" rectifiers. I use a STR-1001 on a Decware ZP3, literally night and day.

Does it make a difference? This discussion reminds me of cables and fuses. There is the "show me", bunch and there is the "I tried it" bunch.. I’m in the latter. Everything matters, even driving home with the window down before a listening session.

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