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The Dynaco Tube Audio Forum

Dedicated to the restoration and preservation of all original Dynaco tube audio equipment - Customer support for Tubes4hifi VTA tube amp and preamp kits and all Dynakitparts.com products


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j beede
BNR_1
cci1492
Jim McShane
sKiZo
peterh
stevenally
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    Best currently available rectifier tubes for Mark 3 amps

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    stevenally


    Posts : 10
    Join date : 2013-12-07

    Best currently available rectifier tubes for Mark 3 amps Empty Best currently available rectifier tubes for Mark 3 amps

    Post by stevenally Tue Apr 17, 2018 8:21 am

    Have a pair of recently "re-done" Mark 3 amps. Stock board with all nos carbon comp resistors Clarity Caps. SDS cap board to replace quad cap. Gold Lion reissue KT88s , RCA 6AN8 , teflon sockets. What is generally considered to be the best choice for rectifier tubes? I have a pair of Sovtek 5AR4/GZ34 , and a couple of boxes of NOS 5R4 , 5U4 tubes. Can't really afford to lose any power as I am trying to push a set of Magneplaners. Are the re-issue Mullard or Gold Lion tubes any good or should I skip lunch for a month ant find a set of vintage Mullard tubes ($$$$$) ?
    peterh
    peterh


    Posts : 1869
    Join date : 2012-12-25
    Location : gothenburg, sweden

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    Post by peterh Tue Apr 17, 2018 2:40 pm

    stevenally wrote:Have a pair of recently "re-done" Mark 3 amps. Stock board with all nos carbon comp resistors Clarity Caps. SDS cap board to replace quad cap. Gold Lion reissue KT88s , RCA 6AN8 , teflon sockets. What is generally considered to be the best choice for rectifier tubes? I have a pair of Sovtek 5AR4/GZ34 , and a couple of boxes of NOS 5R4 , 5U4 tubes. Can't really afford to lose any power as I am trying to push a set of Magneplaners. Are the re-issue Mullard or Gold Lion tubes any good or should I skip lunch for a month ant find a set of vintage Mullard tubes ($$$$$) ?

    2 Si diodes. 1n4007 for instance.
    sKiZo
    sKiZo


    Posts : 1530
    Join date : 2013-04-01
    Location : Michigan USA

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    Post by sKiZo Tue Apr 17, 2018 4:40 pm

    I've heard good things about these little guys ...

    http://www.nostubestore.com/2016/10/reflektor-54-gz32-gz33-5z4gt-ussr.html

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    Jim McShane


    Posts : 237
    Join date : 2011-10-19
    Location : South Suburban Chicago

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    Post by Jim McShane Tue Apr 17, 2018 6:28 pm

    stevenally wrote:Have a pair of recently "re-done" Mark 3 amps. Stock board with all nos carbon comp resistors Clarity Caps. SDS cap board to replace quad cap. Gold Lion reissue KT88s , RCA 6AN8 , teflon sockets. What is generally considered to be the best choice for rectifier tubes? I have a pair of Sovtek 5AR4/GZ34 , and a couple of boxes of NOS 5R4 , 5U4 tubes. Can't really afford to lose any power as I am trying to push a set of Magneplaners. Are the re-issue Mullard or Gold Lion tubes any good or should I skip lunch for a month ant find a set of vintage Mullard tubes ($$$$$) ?

    Both the Genalex/Gold Lion U77/GZ34 and the Tung-Sol current production 5AR4/GZ34 are FAR better than any other current production rectifier I know of. The new Mullard may be as well but I have no experience with it. Be aware that a lot of the people who pass judgment on these new rectifiers have no experience with them so don't take everything you read as fact.
    cci1492
    cci1492


    Posts : 331
    Join date : 2016-05-09
    Age : 64
    Location : NJ

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    Post by cci1492 Tue Apr 17, 2018 6:57 pm

    Here's the list of what I have used thus far on my M 125s: Genalex/Gold Lion U77/GZ34, PrimaLoona 5AR4 pulled from my Pre-Amp, was really surprised with this one, guess it's an expectation game...Chinese Shuguang...sorted before getting the PrimaLoonie tag, Mullard GZ33, and the copper Weber. To be totally honest, I think the Weber sounds the best, GZ33 a close second, and then the other 2 about the same. But, you have to really push them (crank it up..get the Led out..) all to hear a difference because at normal listening levels (when I'm not alone in the house!) they all sound about the same.
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    Jim McShane


    Posts : 237
    Join date : 2011-10-19
    Location : South Suburban Chicago

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    Post by Jim McShane Tue Apr 17, 2018 7:11 pm

    cci1492 wrote:Here's the list of what I have used thus far on my M 125s: Genalex/Gold Lion U77/GZ34, PrimaLoona 5AR4 pulled from my Pre-Amp, was really surprised with this one, guess it's an expectation game...Chinese Shuguang...sorted before getting the PrimaLoonie tag, Mullard GZ33, and the copper Weber. To be totally honest, I think the Weber sounds the best, GZ33 a close second, and then the other 2 about the same. But, you have to really push them (crank it up..get the Led out..) all to hear a difference because at normal listening levels (when I'm not alone in the house!) they all sound about the same.

    The difference in voltage drops from one rectifier to the other can cause some sonic differences in the circuitry it powers. That voltage change is what accounts for the vast majority of tonal difference from rectifier to rectifier.
    cci1492
    cci1492


    Posts : 331
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    Post by cci1492 Tue Apr 17, 2018 9:24 pm

    Has anyone here tried a Matsushita 5AR4/GZ34? I'm curious about this one, I bet they're at least as good as the reissues available today. There's a guy on eBay that's been selling them for a while just wondering if anyone here tried one on Bob's amps.
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    BNR_1


    Posts : 111
    Join date : 2013-06-11

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    Post by BNR_1 Tue Apr 17, 2018 10:29 pm

    I have a good experience with the Sovtek 5AR4. I bought these rectifiers through a trusted source so I think that factors a lot. I have not used them in a Mark III, which I understand that stresses out the rectifier. My experience is limited only to the Dynaco ST70, and a few guitar amps (BFSR, Bassman 59, and SFPR). Again, my experience is limited, but me personally have no problem continuing to use the Sovtek 5AR4 as long as I can trust the seller. The price is just a marginal higher but well worth it. I should also note that I used the Ruby 5AR4 for the same application. I switched to the Sovtek more out of curiousity and not as a necessity. The Ruby performed just as good. But I did not put the same amount of hours on the tube as I have on the Sovtek.
    j beede
    j beede


    Posts : 473
    Join date : 2011-02-07
    Location : California

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    Post by j beede Tue Apr 17, 2018 10:57 pm

    I'm not sure what you mean by "best"...

    I have been running the same pair of SOVTEK 5AR4 in my Mk IIIs for 4-5 years and these amps are my favorites. I think I paid $26 for the pair from guitarcenter.com. I always pre-rectify B+ with a pair of 1n4007 or 1n5408 so the 5AR4 is providing HV delay and voltage drop.
    peterh
    peterh


    Posts : 1869
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    Location : gothenburg, sweden

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    Post by peterh Thu Jun 14, 2018 2:25 am

    Has anyone tries the GZ34 from "new brimar" ?
    http://brimaruk.com/valves/rectifier/brimar-gz34/

    It's claimed to be a replica of the original brimar / mullard GZ34/5AR4
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    nmchiefsfan


    Posts : 78
    Join date : 2012-03-21

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    Post by nmchiefsfan Thu Jun 14, 2018 8:22 pm

    I have been running the same Tung-Sol 5AR4/GZ34 in my VTA120 for more than a year and probably have 1000+ hours on it. I am biased at 55mA/Tube + whatever the driver board uses so this tube takes a pretty good beating. I have yet to find one last this long. Well worth the extra $$ as I have never gotten more than a couple hundred hours out of the 20 dollar rectifiers I got at the guitar stores.
    Tube Nube
    Tube Nube


    Posts : 707
    Join date : 2008-12-06
    Age : 61
    Location : Calgary, AB

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    Post by Tube Nube Fri Jun 15, 2018 12:44 pm

    Replaced a Ruby, I think it was, 5AR4 with an NOS Mullard GZ 33 (or was it a 37?). An unmistakable improvement in the sound.
    10-E-C
    10-E-C


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    Post by 10-E-C Fri Jun 15, 2018 3:04 pm

    Tube Nube wrote:Replaced a Ruby, I think it was, 5AR4 with an NOS Mullard GZ 33 (or was it a 37?). An unmistakable improvement in the sound.

    I've been running Mullard GZ 37s in a pair of M125s for almost 4 years now, played every night. No issues at all. You get what you pay for.
    MarcVBelgium
    MarcVBelgium


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    Post by MarcVBelgium Sun Jun 17, 2018 11:49 am

    stevenally wrote:Have a pair of recently "re-done" Mark 3 amps. Stock board with all nos carbon comp resistors Clarity Caps. SDS cap board to replace quad cap. Gold Lion reissue KT88s , RCA 6AN8 , teflon sockets. What is generally considered to be the best choice for rectifier tubes? I have a pair of Sovtek 5AR4/GZ34 , and a couple of boxes of NOS 5R4 , 5U4 tubes. Can't really afford to lose any power as I am trying to push a set of Magneplaners. Are the re-issue Mullard or Gold Lion tubes any good or should I skip lunch for a month ant find a set of vintage Mullard tubes ($$$$$) ?


    NOS Mullard GZ37 (old NATO stock) can be had from Watford Valves (UK) for 59,5 £ (excl. VAT 20%) which comes to 97 $ all-in except shipment.  This is quite some $$$ since you need 2.
    BUT...… they will serve you for many, many years…..and….. you are assured to have the best tube rectifier.

    I use one in a ST120.


    For the record, I once bought a new issue Genalex GZ34 that did not work from day one. Maybe some bad luck…… I do love Genalex (KT88)

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