Author Topic: What rectifer tubes do you recommend?  (Read 21024 times)

crazikid

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What rectifer tubes do you recommend?
« on: September 12, 2010, 06:03:36 PM »
I'm in the market for some more rectifier tubes for the KillerDAC.

I'm after peoples experiences of what rectifier tubes they would recommend and also ones to stay away from.

Many thanks..

Offline kajak12

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Re: What rectifer tubes do you recommend?
« Reply #1 on: September 12, 2010, 09:13:36 PM »
u52,5u4g tung sol,type 80 tung sol(need adapter with this one)

stay away from sylvania disk getter or any other disk getter valve they are more hifi.
still discovering the link between electronics and audio reproduction.so much to learn and so little time

crazikid

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Re: What rectifer tubes do you recommend?
« Reply #2 on: September 12, 2010, 09:20:21 PM »
thanks kajak... i have a 5u4g in mine... would like to try genelex u52 or we 274b would be good though very $$$$ and rare

tuyen

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Re: What rectifer tubes do you recommend?
« Reply #3 on: September 13, 2010, 12:34:55 PM »
I'm using a GEC brown base U52 5u4g  black plate.

Very expensive, but very nice!

Offline kajak12

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Re: What rectifer tubes do you recommend?
« Reply #4 on: September 13, 2010, 08:08:32 PM »
thanks kajak... i have a 5u4g in mine... would like to try genelex u52 or we 274b would be good though very $$$$ and rare
i like my 5u4g for the money its a bargain always looking for more
still discovering the link between electronics and audio reproduction.so much to learn and so little time

crazikid

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Re: What rectifer tubes do you recommend?
« Reply #5 on: September 14, 2010, 05:42:14 PM »
Has anyone tried 5R4GY? rca brown base black plates from the 1940's to 1950's.. ;D
« Last Edit: September 14, 2010, 07:01:00 PM by kajak12 »

Offline kajak12

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Re: What rectifer tubes do you recommend?
« Reply #6 on: September 14, 2010, 06:59:25 PM »
Has anyone tried 5R4GY?
i use 2 of them in my amp (power supply)
still discovering the link between electronics and audio reproduction.so much to learn and so little time

tuyen

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Re: What rectifer tubes do you recommend?
« Reply #7 on: September 15, 2010, 07:12:34 AM »
I have a pair of them that will be used in my amp too :)

Offline kajak12

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still discovering the link between electronics and audio reproduction.so much to learn and so little time



Offline kajak12

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still discovering the link between electronics and audio reproduction.so much to learn and so little time


Offline kajak12

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Re: What rectifer tubes do you recommend?
« Reply #13 on: October 09, 2010, 10:23:06 PM »
 it will go for big $$$$$
still discovering the link between electronics and audio reproduction.so much to learn and so little time

crazikid

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Re: What rectifer tubes do you recommend?
« Reply #14 on: October 09, 2010, 10:37:54 PM »

Offline stevenvalve

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Re: What rectifer tubes do you recommend?
« Reply #15 on: October 13, 2010, 02:04:51 PM »
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=180570053051#ht_500wt_942
I have four of these, and they are superb rectifiers, but for some reason do not sound as good as they should in the killer. Great in my amps though. Why maybe because of the low voltage in the DAC. buy higher voltage in the amps, they are a high voltage high performance rectifier.

Offline Hens

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Re: What rectifer tubes do you recommend?
« Reply #16 on: November 23, 2010, 01:10:34 AM »
Can someone tell me if we can use 274b's in the kdac?

Offline stevenvalve

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Re: What rectifer tubes do you recommend?
« Reply #17 on: November 23, 2010, 02:52:22 AM »
Can someone tell me if we can use 274b's in the kdac?
Hens. You can use WESTERN ELECTRIC 274B and 274A, one is 4 pin and other is 8. both 5V filament. But they go for idiot money. The best one is the engraved base 1930s. Do you want to get serious with your DACs now, and hot them up some more.

Offline Hens

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Re: What rectifer tubes do you recommend?
« Reply #18 on: November 23, 2010, 11:16:50 AM »
No a western electric one steve, one of the current spec reissues. There is a EML one going for reasonable money.

ehtcom

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Re: What rectifier tubes do you recommend?
« Reply #19 on: November 23, 2010, 01:20:02 PM »
No a western electric one steve, one of the current spec reissues. There is a EML one going for reasonable money.

Hi Hens.
I've had some issues with two EML274B rectifiers (in a preamplifier so they were only used lightly).
The first capacitor must be less than 4uf, but more importantly the output impedance of the power transformer must be high.
With your DAC unplugged from the mains the rectifier tube removed measure the DC resistance between the two HT wires (pins 2 and 8 ) of the rectifier socket) If this is less than 160 ohms (DCR) use resistors in series with the HT wire to increase the DCR. In my preamps I use 5 watt 100 ohm wire wound on each pin ( 2 & 8 ) to limit the in-rush current. It's a bit of overkill but with a preamp the current draw is quite minimal so there is hardly any voltage drop across the resistors.

Another issue with EML I found was warranty. I returned both tubes and sent several emails, in the end they just ignored me, and never sent any replacements. I notice they now have many warnings on their web-page regarding the use of their rectifier tubes.

I initially had the rectifier setup with a 2.2uf pio then 10henry choke, another 2.2uf pio followed by a 20h henry choke, then a 47uf electro. Any known rectifier should have coped with this setup as I was only running 275-0-275 vac less than 20ma.

Personally I'd go for a 5R4 brown base, or CV417
http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Mullard-5R4GY-274B-CV717-carbon-plates-MINT-suit-Leak-/300495282959?pt=UK_Consumer_VintageAudio_RL&hash=item45f6ea230f

Cheers, Earle.