SOund of 3B28 vs. 866A

korneluk · 13th March 2008, 01:55 AM

Folks,

Has anyone compared the sound of the 3B28 xenon rectifier vs. the 866A and 83 mercury types? If so, which do you prefer and why?

TIA,

-- josé k.

tubelab.com · 13th March 2008, 02:36 AM

They are interchangeable in most circuits. I have both, you can borrow them when you get that monster built. 3B28 has a pale purpleish white glow visible only at relatively high current in a dark room.

FG32's are in the truck, remind me tomorrow.

ak_47_boy · 13th March 2008, 04:34 AM

Monster eh, sounds interesting

I remember seeing a post about the 866 having less sag, but i can't find it. More sag will make your amp sound more like a tube amp.

The 866 will also need a few minutes warm up time where as the 3B28 does not.

Gluca · 13th March 2008, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by ak_47_boy

The 866 will also need a few minutes warm up time where as the 3B28 does not.

Nah ... 10-30 secs are enough if you use the tube every day. Warm it 1 hour or more after the first installation before applying any high voltage. If it doesn't light up after a couple of attemps and it keeps on blowing your fuses just forget it, sometime it happens with MV rectifiers.

Ciao
Gianluca

dave slagle · 13th March 2008, 02:19 PM

to me the 3B28 has a solid state sound whereas I find mercury to be very full and musical.

dave

13th March 2008, 01:55 AM	#1
korneluk diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: South Florida	SOund of 3B28 vs. 866A Folks, Has anyone compared the sound of the 3B28 xenon rectifier vs. the 866A and 83 mercury types? If so, which do you prefer and why? TIA, -- josé k.

13th March 2008, 02:36 AM	#2
tubelab.com diyAudio Member Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: South Florida	They are interchangeable in most circuits. I have both, you can borrow them when you get that monster built. 3B28 has a pale purpleish white glow visible only at relatively high current in a dark room. FG32's are in the truck, remind me tomorrow. __________________ Too much power is almost enough! Turn it up till it explodes - then back up just a little.

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13th March 2008, 04:34 AM	#3
ak_47_boy diyAudio Member Join Date: Sep 2006	Monster eh, sounds interesting I remember seeing a post about the 866 having less sag, but i can't find it. More sag will make your amp sound more like a tube amp. The 866 will also need a few minutes warm up time where as the 3B28 does not.

13th March 2008, 02:19 PM	#5
dave slagle diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: NYC	to me the 3B28 has a solid state sound whereas I find mercury to be very full and musical. dave

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