Comparison: Tube Rectifier Shootout (5U4GB, GZ34, 5R4GY, 5Y3S) 

I think you are nuts. If you believe a rectifier can actually change audio tones please supply the scientifically supported technical and solid electronic reasoning and proof. Here's what real people think: www.antiqueradios.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=19&t=343062&p=2878853#p2878853

@@peterbalazsy8263 I was invited to a tube rolling weekend with fellow audiophiles once where I expected/was told it would be about output tubes, but then, people showed up with rectifiers as well, and we never quite got to the output tubes. The reason was that we quickly wanted to pick a suitable rectifier and be done with it. They all sounded different. I was flabbergasted, and kind of glad at the time I didn't own a tube amp (with the exception of a headphone amp that doesn't require a tube rectifier). We also had a diode rectifier at hand which made any amp and/or DHT DACs sound fairly awful. I'm a tech-minded person myself and remember, on the way back home, saying to myself, how completely insane tubes are for audiophiles who are even remotely OCD - an endless journey and/or search for the Holy Grail which, in reality, will always only remain a matter of taste. As a (mainly) transistor gear oriented audiophile, I remember asking myself which sounded "right", and how obvious it was the question would be impossible to answer. So unless you listen and form your own opinion, please refrain from scoffing at people who do. Yes, rectifiers are supposed to not make a difference. I don't think there was a single person there who hadn't heard that before. I'll say that unless one were stone-deaf, it'll be impossible to defend this position. And frankly, it's unscientific to just be in denial because something can't be (what the flat-earthers said). I'm not claiming to have an explanation, but I surely have enough scientific curiosity to admit it when I don't understand something.

@@LeonFleisherFan I stand by my request for any shred of evidence. My position is based on the fact that the rectifier is before the DC filtering circuit... and if the filter is sufficient ....then there is no difference from that DC and the DC supplied by a battery. So i defy anyone to listen to ANY audio equipment, and in a blind test, tell me if the sound they hear is fed from a battery supply or a rectified/filtered supply of similar no-ripple quality. If anyone can do that... I'll not only take my hat off to them... but I will eat it too!

@@peterbalazsy8263 Oh, you'd have to eat it, single or double blind test, no matter, the differences were not only repeatable but such that I was honestly confused. I'm surprised you think there is DC filtering equivalent to the DC supplied by a battery - that's where I'd be tempted to ask for evidence - but that's just an aside. I recommend listening to the difference for yourself - it's frankly impossible for anyone to be in denial to an extent where one wouldn't hear the difference - then figure out the reason yourself. All I know is it doesn't make sense to me it should be so obvious, but I don't have a problem admitting I don't understand everything.

@@peterbalazsy8263 Needless to say the simple explanation would appear to be differing impedances (voltage drop), but that doesn't appear to be the whole answer.

Exactly. No audio goes through rectifier.

How true this is. Rectifiers will vary voltage, which in turn affects the tone.. No sound signal goes through a rectifier tube, so all this about this one has better treble etc is all NONSENSE! Rectifiers act like a diode, except that voltage changes slightly as the amp demands power. This is called tube sag. All rectifiers will experience sag, in turn also affecting tone. All the different rectifiers do is supply different voltages. The change in tone that you hear is the tone section reacting to the different voltages. The preamp and power tubes reacting to the voltage changes and sag are what changes the tone.. So in fact, rectifiers do not directly affect tone, they affect voltage which causes the tubes in the sound path to react changing the tone!

@@HFTONE yeah exactly! But I personally like to use the word “feel” versus “tone” for what a rectifier does. The sag affects the feel of how your guitar interacts with the amp rather than tone because everyone thinks of tone as different frequencies and/or level of gain.

matthewmatthew638 what?

To placebo purgatory you go....

matthewmatthew638 first I'm hearing of tubes sounding different being a placebo effect. Stay woke.

What are you talking about? At least with tubes you could ABX test it and hear the differences between all of them because of the physical nature of the tubes.

these are rectifier tubes!

And if indeed this were all there is to it, why would anyone not want to use the one they like? That's the problem: the scientific-minded among us are preoccupied with reasoning (some with denial and an unfortunate lack of scientific curiosity), whereas audiophiles are interested in the result. Your point is well taken, and what you're really saying is that audio is about synergy effects. Anyone find this surprising?

@@LeonFleisherFan No what he is saying is that if you don't null out measurable differences then the result is a flawed testing and not very scientific at all. "Audiophiles" are the worst in believing foolish pseudo science. That is why they pay thousands for cables that do nothing except make them poorer.

These are all rectifier tubes and they do change the sound. I tested them all in the IHA-1.

Was it a Sovtek tube? I have it now in the used 5e3 clone I bought recently but I think of swapping it with a good nos rca, sylvania, telefunken or anything similar. Have you noticed any difference besides the voltage change? I heard Sovtek 5y3gt gives the tweed deluxe more clean headroom but also may cause overheating problems (my 5y3 runs really hot after an hour or so of playing). I want my amp to have overdrive breakup at the lowest volume possible so I also think of replacing 12ay7 with 12ax7 in V1 too.

@@michas7993 It was a TAD 5Y3GT but there was some russian writing on the tube. I swapped it for JJ 5Y3 and the voltages are now +/- 5V standard values, also the tone got smoother which is nice. The chassis of my Tweed Deluxe also gets quite hot after playing it on volume above 4 for about 30 minutes, I'm using a TAD 12AY7 in V1 slot. You should look up that video on youtube before buying a Sovtek 5Y3 for your Tweed Deluxe "The SOVTEK 5Y3GT tube rectifier does not operate like a 5Y3". The best choice would probably be a NOS tube like you mentioned. I have a JJ 5Y3 S in my amp, I think it's fine but it won't last as long as NOS tubes would.

I haven't heard it. I was going to buy one but bought a metal base GZ34 instead.

Aren't those going for $300 a pop? What's it sound like? I got an Inspire myself.

Yeah, quite expensive. I think I got mine for more than that but it was truly NOS. It's my favourite rectifier, and I've written quite a bit about it in my Discord server's impressions channel. I'm not sure yet if I'm going to put it in the actual IHA-1 review once I do it. It has incredible detail retrieval and isn't fatiguing in the treble at all. Compared to the RCA 5R4GY, it has less sparkle but better depth and detail retrieval all around. It's leaner in the bass than the regular black base GZ34 and especially the 5U4GB rectifiers that I've tried - but I still find it a very advantageous tradeoff overall.

I'll have to look into it - that's what I'm looking for right now to compliment my Atticus and to make it more balanced as an overall can. Look forward to seeing your review. The Inspire has totally taken away all my curiosity for a ZDS.

For the Atticus I quite like leaner, airier tubes. Based on your description, the Philips 5R4 is a good pairing. I would probably also put Sylvania Chrome Top 6SN7s on there too.

Absolutely not.

The ignorance effect is also strong. Different rectifier tubes have different voltage drops, current capabilities and speed of response, etc. They interact with the transformer and rest of the power supply circuit and impact the sound in terms of headroom, sag, compression and how the tubes, especially power tubes, react to the signal. Here's some idiot, Dr. Z, you may want to listen to about tube rectifiers: ru-vid.com/video/%D0%B2%D0%B8%D0%B4%D0%B5%D0%BE-By3GvPHSZQQ.html

I have read that they have and effect on tone.

lilgoldfishjr mayhaps