Why tube rectification?


This question is directed at the distinguished members of the forum who design and build tube amps or those who have knowledge of tube amp design. All the tube amps I own/have built us two diodes for rectification. Diodes are cheap, compact and last the life of the amplifier in most cases. Examples include the Dynaco ST-35, the Decware Zenkit1 (which is basically a Decware SE84) and the Elekit TU-8900. All reasonably well respected amps. Yet many of the more expensive amps go with tube rectification, which obviously involves the downside of another tube, more power, more space.

These two competing solutions both supply the basic power to the audio tubes and output transformers, so only indirectly interact with the sound signal. I have not read anything that explains what tube rectification brings to the party. But it must have some upside to offset it's obvious downsides. If I changed over one of the above amps to tube from diode rectification what would I be likely to  hear?

Ag insider logo xs@2xbruce19

My Melton MKT-88 uses dual rectifier tubes and no feedback.  I actually prefer the sound of my solid state Yamaha RX-Z9 in "Pure Direct" mode.  The Melton rolls off the highs a bit more than my liking.  But I only have about 60 hours on it.

I like unconventional rectifier tubes, such as the 3b22, 866a, 3b28, also TV damper diodes work very well. The mainstream rectifier tubes don't even come close to the tubes I've mentioned, also these tubes can be used for a full bridge rectifier, and the mainstream rectifier tubes can't be because they all have a shared cathode.

Well, I wonder if you would like the "unconventional rectifier" in the power supply of my phono stage.  It runs twin 300B tubes as rectifiers.

@larryi the 300b can work for lower power equipment like a phono stage. Power tubes can be used as rectifiers, I wouldn't use them for high powered tube amps, but they can make lower power equipment sound really good.