WTB Rectifier tube/s

Inthefade

Hi everyone,

Somehow after spending some money on a case and transformer to make a dreadnought, I had a little left over to by a dared 2000a pre from audiocr381ve. I'm almost a complete noob with tubes. I have a Fisher 500c but has all original tubes and have never swapped any.

I would really appreciate some guidance from some experianced CP members

Shane included a set of highly regarded 12at7 telefunken's but suggested I find a rectifier tube to replace the Chinese one.

From searching past posts it seems Bendix, Brimar and Mullard are the highly suggested tubes. I also found suggested places to buy from. Are these still good places to purchase from?

Does anyone have extras they'd like to part with?

Thanks in advance

Oldfatdogs

Like you I'm a tube noob,when I bought the dared 2000a pre I got some tubes from H9-Brock.I am using a Tungsram Rectifier tube,I have tried the Brimar but went back to the Tungsram.Maybe I just got used to the sound of things with this tube in my rig.Some tubes are still reasonable try a few and see which float's your boat. I'm sure others that have had this pre will chime in.

Dan

PS this list may help.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?158909-Tubes-The-Master-List-Cross-reference-and-tweaks

mhardy6647

what rectifier do you need? Is it a 5AR4/GZ34?

Inthefade

Gz30/5y3 from what I've read.

They seem to have shot up in price in the past few years.

mhardy6647

Ahh. The world is full of old and NOS 5Y3s!
PM me yer address if you want and I'll send you a good used American one from the collection next week, if'n you like!
(I am pretty darned sure I have a mess of used ones; I will check and make sure I send one with a good amount of life left in it before wasting your time!)

Let's see -- do I have a sexy 5Y3 picture to punctuate this thread? Well, not really... but that is a 5Y3 occupying the back socket in this photo of my Decware SE-84B "Zen" SE-pseudo-T stereo amp :-)

DSC_9988 by mhardy6647, on Flickr

Photo by my son, copyright is his: http://icouldbeahero.blogspot.com

Inthefade

Nice photo. I've tried several times to take a nice photo of the 7195's in the fisher but they never look like that!

Thanks for the offer mrh. I'll send a pm soon.

mhardy6647

It gives me a reason to find my tube tester! :-) I haven't managed to unearth it since we moved to the new house last summer! It's downstairs... somewhere...
(but I know I can find some 5Y3s!)

Faustin

Inthefade wrote: »

Hi everyone,

Somehow after spending some money on a case and transformer to make a dreadnought, I had a little left over to by a dared 2000a pre from audiocr381ve. I'm almost a complete noob with tubes. I have a Fisher 500c but has all original tubes and have never swapped any.

I would really appreciate some guidance from some experianced CP members

Shane included a set of highly regarded 12at7 telefunken's but suggested I find a rectifier tube to replace the Chinese one.

From searching past posts it seems Bendix, Brimar and Mullard are the highly suggested tubes. I also found suggested places to buy from. Are these still good places to purchase from?

Does anyone have extras they'd like to part with?

Thanks in advance

I recently bought a Dared sl 2000 and replaced the chinese rectifier with a Brimar 5Z4G. When I ordered it I bought 2 of them since the shipping was approx the same as for 1. If you are interested send me a pm.

mhardy6647

An attractive old US (Sylvania) 5Y3 is en route to the OP even as I type this... in the sure and steady hands of the U-nited States Postal Service ;-)

I'd have sent a PM but I'd have to figure out how to! ;-)

Oh, and I did find my tube tester... so I am way ahead of the game now! :-)

Inthefade

Thank you sir! To my surprise I got it today.

I'm one of those forum members who just figured out my link must not be working. Only took a few days.

I hooked up the dared temporarily yesterday with just the Chinese tubes. I have a few pre tubes I picked up at an auction. A while ago and want to get my tube roll on.

I'm trying to find a way to pick up the one Faustian offered as well.

I might start another thread on the dared. I can say for sure I like the tube sound.

heiney9

In my experience 5Z4G sound better than 5Y3 in the Dared. 5Y3 is compatible electrically.

The Brimar is by far the best. CV 1863 GZ30 are direct equivalents to the 5Z4G just different numbering because Euro tubes use different numbering.

The second best is the Bendix 6106 which is a quasi-5Y3 equivalent. Nothing else really compares, IMO

H9

mhardy6647

Inthefade wrote: »

Thank you sir! To my surprise I got it today.

I'm one of those forum members who just figured out my link must not be working. Only took a few days.

I hooked up the dared temporarily yesterday with just the Chinese tubes. I have a few pre tubes I picked up at an auction. A while ago and want to get my tube roll on.

I'm trying to find a way to pick up the one Faustian offered as well.

I might start another thread on the dared. I can say for sure I like the tube sound.

Based on the post above, source a 5Z4 or one of the other rectifiers mentioned and see what if any audible difference you hear. I suspect (???) any audible difference reflects the efficiency of the various rectifiers -- it varies considerably from tube to tube.

Check a tube manual (you can download a bevy of RCA Receiving Tube Manuals from www.tubebooks.org ) and compare the specifications of various full wave HV rectifier tubes when you get a chance.

mhardy6647

mhardy6647 wrote: »

Inthefade wrote: »

Thank you sir! To my surprise I got it today.

I'm one of those forum members who just figured out my link must not be working. Only took a few days.

I hooked up the dared temporarily yesterday with just the Chinese tubes. I have a few pre tubes I picked up at an auction. A while ago and want to get my tube roll on.

I'm trying to find a way to pick up the one Faustian offered as well.

I might start another thread on the dared. I can say for sure I like the tube sound.

Based on the post above, source a 5Z4 or one of the other rectifiers mentioned and see what if any audible difference you hear. I suspect (???) any audible difference reflects the efficiency (i.e., the voltage drop) of the various rectifiers -- it varies considerably from tube type to tube type.

Check a tube manual (you can download a bevy of RCA Receiving Tube Manuals from www.tubebooks.org ) and compare the specifications of various full wave HV rectifier tubes when you get a chance.

mhardy6647

Didja try the old 5Y3, and/or have you sourced any other rectifiers to taste-test?

Inthefade

No sir, haven't had the chance.

We recently refinished our hardwood floors and setting everything back up is soon to come. I temporarily set everything but for the first listen. I hope I can get everything done in the next few weeks.

There is a nice Brimar 5Z4G in transit! I took Faustin up on his offer.

Once everything is up and running I'd like to roll through them to hear the difference.

mhardy6647

be sure to report back to the class!