SS replacement for 83 tube ?

[anatech]

Hi alexmoose,
The problem with comparing the sound of these things is that they each have their own advantages and disadvantages. In a properly designed power supply for a preamp, I don't think you would ever hear a difference.

As a guess, a mercury rectifier would probably share the same characteristics as a solid state rectifier. The disadvantage is the long warm up time before you can load them. They didn't have reliable silicon rectifiers back then, so they invented the next best thing. I don't have a problem with the concept of designing a new unit with them, as long as it's not just for style. Use them for their intended purpose.

no one knew that Mercury was as toxic as the gates of hell. but what sets them apart?

Sure they did! They were pretty intelligent about these things. The only difference between then and now is back then they allowed natural selection to operate freely. Today, we strive to protect idiots from themselves.

Personally I think we are making a mistake about that. Darwin would agree.

-Chris

[Telefunkenfan]

Hmmm I do not know how old this thread is but it begs the question :what would be the difference if a SS 83 drop-in was used? Ignoring the needed resistor needed to compensate for filament voltage and current loss.I mean I have the Tungsol,GE and RCA "curves" for the tube and looking at it I am not so sure SS diodes can match those curves verbatim.and if they can't be made to behave like an 83 verbatim wouldn't that still affect the signal, even if marginally? ..
Still even as green as I am I can't help but wonder.

[GloBug]

What sounds best is a rock-solid power supply. (For audio reproduction)

The 83 Mercury tube is a vacuum tube.

Vacuum rectifiers can "sag" voltage under power spikes that alters the sound, ie it can't handle the peaks if pushed hard.

This may be wanted, in the case of a vintage sounding type guitar amplifier.

This won't be wanted in music reproduction or "HiFi"

Not to say that tube rectification is bad, if the current drawn is low enough.

I went with SS power supply in my amp.

If it's properly designed, the power supply should be invisible, you want to picture it as one big battery. How it's charged and what brand it is won't be noticed until there is no enough power.

Some talk about SS rectifiers having "hash" noise etc. I can't hear anything at all. There are some diodes that are supposed to be better for this if wanted.

Embrace it, it's one of the few things in tube audio were a valve can replaced with a modern. maintenance free component and have a positive result in audio application.

[DF96]

Given that they were often used in railway traction, I assume high current and low voltage drop in a small space? High efficiency is less of an issue for audio. As they use a gaseous discharge, my guess is that they would be electrically noisy.

[jackinnj]

My Hallicrafters 2kw ham amplifier uses mercury vapor tubes -- hash isn't a problem with them.

If you break a mercury vapor tube, don't attempt to vacuum up the liquid metal - you need a special HEPA filter vacuum and a regular device will just cause the mercury particulate to go into a fine suspension in the air (pretty heavy, however.)

Compact fluorescents contain mercury, not enough to cause serious concern if treated properly and handled correctly, but enough to cause a scare at Home Depot when some were accidentally broken. (CFL's use switch mode power supply which generates its own "hash").

[DF96]

OK. I guessed wrong!

[kevinkr]

Originally Posted by DF96

OK. I guessed wrong!

Nah, you didn't, it's all in the implementation, and I would not expect a 2kW linear to be the most susceptible application either. I've heard plenty of MV rectifiers in SE tube amps where the hash had to be carefully dealt with. (And sometimes hadn't)