Crucial TUBE question

One more thing…

What got me started down this dark path was the simple quest to  acquire the best (rectifier?)sounding  tube I could get for the PL.  My PL feeds 2 amplification outputs (Luxman switches between them): 1. Parasound Halo A1+ 2. Two Quicksilver M60s monos (with Zeros, into GR Research outboard crossover) into 1.7i Maggies.  (I use the QS for quieter jazz/acoustic, or just for a different flavor, if not great power).  So, really I wanted to have the PL kick a bit more juice to the monos.  Maybe I should’ve just started here with asking you all what tubes you’d use to get something like  that accomplished, if any tube other than the standard PL 5r4gy might do it.  

@dogearedaudio,

Just saw your post after my last upload.  That’s sounds promising.  I’ll definitely look into it. Thanks.  

If you want the best possible rectifier for your PrimaLuna, then spring for a pair of vintage NOS Mullard GZ34s. The price may seem off-putting, but they will literally last a lifetime in that preamp, and offer the best possible sound, IMO. For maybe $500 you will get a $2K upgrade in the sound of the preamp. No modern GZ34, and I mean NONE, even remotely compares to the quality of a NOS Mullard.

@dogearedaudio,

Just checked-out what’s available for NOS GZs. You’re right, they fetch a hefty price. I’l l just put it out there that since I can’t use them, I’m willing to do a straight swap of the essentially brand new Tung-Sol KT-150s (cryo/matched), for a pair of used good matched and balanced pair of the NOS GZ34s.

I don't know what it is that makes power tubes in the rectifier position have such a big bold sound. I have a unit that can use power tubes in the rectifier position, it just plugs into a 5ar4 rectifier socket.