how to choose a rectifier tube? (specifically octals)

jarthel · 21st June 2006, 12:33 PM

there are so many rectifiers out there.

Does anyone know of an article/guide/discussion on this topic?

thank you.

refference · 21st June 2006, 10:30 PM

Hi jarthel ,

The rectifier tubes , should be chosen by the ratings ,
that need for your project / assembly .

Working DC voltage desired and Output DC current
desired , are the most significant parameters that will
influence your decision , and they determine the
choice within 95% or more of the situations .

Another parameters will be internal resistance , peak
cathode current and internal voltage drop . And even-
tually in some cases you must to consider the mounting
position too.

Carlos

arnoldc · 21st June 2006, 11:56 PM

Hi jarthel,

I like the 5AR4 for its built in slow startup and very low voltage drop (read: more efficient).

If I really need to waste a lot of B+ and lower it down, I'd use a 5Y3.

Having said that, the above post summarizes it all. You need to look at specs and features of a particular rectifier.

lndm · 22nd June 2006, 03:10 AM

I like the 5V4G, and I like a slow turn on characteristic.

NickC · 22nd June 2006, 04:47 AM

On rectifiers
I never really bother with specs. never intend to run a rectifier longer than a year. So beware

On rectiferes
Specs does not meet much because its rectifer makes a difference in sound. Most important whether the recifier suite your personnel taste. No point have a rectifier used due to its specs meeting requirement only to have it sound not so good to your taste

On sonics
gz34. Fast, decent bass. JJ more dynamic and punchier than the philips. Philips are more refine . Bass goes low and deep
gz37. Nice tube. Decent rectifer. Bass goes low and deep but not so deep as gz344
5u4gb. Lots of mid bass. Highs are so so. Sluggish but full bodied.
5r4. Super highs, fast,airy but thin sounding and light on body. Go for non-potato masher.
5y3 my personnel fav. Airy and deep bass. Fast to. Very transparent. Personnely i feel this tube is contrary to popular belief where its has high output impedance but is very transparent and fast. Bass is deep too. Not sure how? Fare better than gz34. I tend to run this tube alot. Run them hard and over the specs. Have them running a 300b stereo now. Won't last but they are cheap so why bother. Go for brown base types. Or a british type where they are more transparent and lower base. Ken rad are really good and wet bass.
80- Ancestor of the 5y3 , rolled of highs but super mids. I use type 80 with a 5y3 mix in my set up to balance things
5v4 and stuff. Heard it but not long. Was not up to spec
Got some az1 ballon mesh plate i suspect this will be much better than the 80s.

So far this is what i have used so far for octals. Take note i write on sound quality with no regards for tube spec or lifetime

Cheers
nIcholas

lndm · 22nd June 2006, 05:29 AM

Thanks for sharing your comparisons NickC. It's not every day that I come across a subjective comparison of this scale, and it's informative for what it's worth.

I do wonder what your test conditions were. I say this because different rectifiers can change the available supply voltage, and with it, the bias points and currents for the amplifying devices, and this for me creates an unknown.

I'm sure that if I were more experienced with rectifier comparison I would be able to get more useable info from your comparison than I am able to get now.

21st June 2006, 12:33 PM	#1
jarthel diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2002 Location: somewhere in Australia	how to choose a rectifier tube? (specifically octals) there are so many rectifiers out there. Does anyone know of an article/guide/discussion on this topic? thank you.

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21st June 2006, 10:30 PM	#2
refference diyAudio Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: SAO PAULO - SP	Hi jarthel , The rectifier tubes , should be chosen by the ratings , that need for your project / assembly . Working DC voltage desired and Output DC current desired , are the most significant parameters that will influence your decision , and they determine the choice within 95% or more of the situations . Another parameters will be internal resistance , peak cathode current and internal voltage drop . And even- tually in some cases you must to consider the mounting position too. Carlos

21st June 2006, 11:56 PM	#3
arnoldc diyAudio Member Join Date: Apr 2003 Location: Makati	Hi jarthel, I like the 5AR4 for its built in slow startup and very low voltage drop (read: more efficient). If I really need to waste a lot of B+ and lower it down, I'd use a 5Y3. Having said that, the above post summarizes it all. You need to look at specs and features of a particular rectifier.

22nd June 2006, 03:10 AM	#4
lndm diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: nsw	I like the 5V4G, and I like a slow turn on characteristic.

22nd June 2006, 04:47 AM	#5
NickC diyAudio Member Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Earth	On rectifiers I never really bother with specs. never intend to run a rectifier longer than a year. So beware On rectiferes Specs does not meet much because its rectifer makes a difference in sound. Most important whether the recifier suite your personnel taste. No point have a rectifier used due to its specs meeting requirement only to have it sound not so good to your taste On sonics gz34. Fast, decent bass. JJ more dynamic and punchier than the philips. Philips are more refine . Bass goes low and deep gz37. Nice tube. Decent rectifer. Bass goes low and deep but not so deep as gz344 5u4gb. Lots of mid bass. Highs are so so. Sluggish but full bodied. 5r4. Super highs, fast,airy but thin sounding and light on body. Go for non-potato masher. 5y3 my personnel fav. Airy and deep bass. Fast to. Very transparent. Personnely i feel this tube is contrary to popular belief where its has high output impedance but is very transparent and fast. Bass is deep too. Not sure how? Fare better than gz34. I tend to run this tube alot. Run them hard and over the specs. Have them running a 300b stereo now. Won't last but they are cheap so why bother. Go for brown base types. Or a british type where they are more transparent and lower base. Ken rad are really good and wet bass. 80- Ancestor of the 5y3 , rolled of highs but super mids. I use type 80 with a 5y3 mix in my set up to balance things 5v4 and stuff. Heard it but not long. Was not up to spec Got some az1 ballon mesh plate i suspect this will be much better than the 80s. So far this is what i have used so far for octals. Take note i write on sound quality with no regards for tube spec or lifetime Cheers nIcholas

22nd June 2006, 05:29 AM	#6
lndm diyAudio Member Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: nsw	Thanks for sharing your comparisons NickC. It's not every day that I come across a subjective comparison of this scale, and it's informative for what it's worth. I do wonder what your test conditions were. I say this because different rectifiers can change the available supply voltage, and with it, the bias points and currents for the amplifying devices, and this for me creates an unknown. I'm sure that if I were more experienced with rectifier comparison I would be able to get more useable info from your comparison than I am able to get now.