2. amps-preamps
  3. 176211-171531

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
whart's avatar
whart
3,033 posts
 

Andy is real good. I would recommend doing a browser search for DubStep Girl’s Massive 5ar4 Shoot-Out. It is comprehensive and has her comments on the sonics of each tube. I have a number of these rectifiers. My fav, which is not a direct equivalent, is a GEC u52. I’ve had them as brown base and black base. I own several different old Mullards, including a NIB/NOS Philips/Miniwatt metal base- it sounds dramatically different than the GEC.

Some of this is probably due to the circuit, so I’d think you’d want to compare notes with somebody who has rolled using at least the same component. In my case, it was an Allnic phono stage with outboard power supply.

immatthewj OP
1,874 posts
 

Thank you to all for suggestions and information.  I have made some notes and I put some 5AR4s on my ebay watch list so that I can find them easier if I decide to pull the trigger.  I also went back to upscale audio and I clicked on a 5AR4 to rad the blurb, and once again, all I got was Uncle Kevin's screaming face telling me not to buy tubes.

@whart I am about to do a search on that.  Thanks.

facten
2,876 posts
 

@immatthewj - Might also consider NOS GE & RCA 5AR4s; pleased with the sq of both

 

invalid
1,180 posts
 

How much money do these mainstream rectifier tubes cost currently? I got off this train about 3 years ago when I bought a separate power supply with two 2.5 volt rectifier tubes that crushed all of these mainstream rectifier tubes for about $10-20 per tube.

rodman99999
6,125 posts
 

      Not certain about many of the NOS rectifiers, out there, but: a Mullard Blackburn, GZ34, in pristine condition, will always bring above $150, from what I've seen of late.

      One reason for the demand and price, is the presentation, which (of course) is a matter of the palate.

      Another huge one: typically, the tube will still be testing GOOD, long after the first purchaser has expired.

More to discover