When I called the store they said that they all do that. Do all 5u4gb tubes rattle like that? If so, is there a different rectifier tube I can use that won't? I have a 5v4 from my old amp that I plugged in and it's dead silent, but I don't think the 5v4 can really handle the current draw in this new amp.
To say that all 5U4GB's rattle is nuts. Maybe all of "theirs" rattle, but not the world's supply. I suppose it's possible for a quirky power supply problem to excite the rectifier to vibrate for some crazy reason so perhaps some checking is necessary. For a direct replacement you could try a NOS 5U4, Genalex U52 or even a 274B. Also a 5R4G or GA will function but has a little higher voltage drop. A 5R4WGB (potato masher) is similar but has a wider base and may not fit easily.
Insist that they take it back for a refund. Stop your credit card payment if necessary.
It is defective. If all in their stock does this, they should have returned them to the vendor.
Order one from another seller.
TubeDepot.com | JJ 5U4GB Rectifier Vacuum Tube
TubeDepot.com | Electro-Harmonix 5U4GB EH Rectifier Vacuum Tube
It is defective. If all in their stock does this, they should have returned them to the vendor.
Order one from another seller.
TubeDepot.com | JJ 5U4GB Rectifier Vacuum Tube
TubeDepot.com | Electro-Harmonix 5U4GB EH Rectifier Vacuum Tube
Last edited:
What about the first cap in cap input? 5R4G is 4uF in the data, 5U4 is 32uF.
How would a 5R4G react to 32uf?
Since we have no idea just what the tube is used in, or how, appropriate choices should be made. My response was a generalization.
Same with me. Some pentodes tend to rattle inside, because of the loose indirect heater wire, but 5U4G is a direct heated rectifier, therefore no rattle should occur.
I noticed an odd noise from the 5R4 rectifiers in an Altec 1570B. The 1570 uses four rectifiers in a full wave bridge with a 10H input choke feeding a 10 microfarad oil cap.
Never heard that noise before from a rectifier tube. The amplifier ran for hours and hours so I would not worry about a little noise.
Never heard that noise before from a rectifier tube. The amplifier ran for hours and hours so I would not worry about a little noise.
My old (1963) RCA Victor console stereo uses an RCA 5AS4/5U4 rectifier.
Date code is 2/1963, and it was originally driving into an 80uF 375V cap input to power 17 other tubes, and used plenty over the decades.
I'm still using it, though I rebuilt the amp/PS chassis with a 47uF/450v cap input to choke to 100uF/450v
Nothing wrong with it even today.
Plus I keep a hoarde of GE/RCA 5U4's around for my amps as spares. 😀
Date code is 2/1963, and it was originally driving into an 80uF 375V cap input to power 17 other tubes, and used plenty over the decades.
I'm still using it, though I rebuilt the amp/PS chassis with a 47uF/450v cap input to choke to 100uF/450v
Nothing wrong with it even today.
Plus I keep a hoarde of GE/RCA 5U4's around for my amps as spares. 😀
For what little it might be worth to chime in now, I also just had this rattling sound with some new JJ 5U4GBs in a 300B SET amp. I pretended it was ok until one flashed over. I bought some NOS RCAs to replace them and no problems since.
