2. amps-preamps
  3. 190729-187807

Looking for 5AR4 rectifier tube most like solid state

I have the Cary SLP-05 preamp (with the Ultimate Upgrade), which sounds exceedingly good in most respects. Unfortunately, it's sorely lacking in rhythmic excitement (what various British companies call Pace, Rhythm and Timing, or PRaT).

I suspect that the 5AR4 tube rectifier is at least partially to blame. In general, tube rectifiers exhibit "sag". This helps some aspects of the performance, but is likely dulling transients that are needed to create faster dynamics (e.g. percussive envelopes).

Cary has told me that I cannot insert an equivalent solid-state rectifier, as it would require a power supply redesign. Instead, I'm hoping to find a 5AR4 tube that mostly closely behaves like a solid state rectifier. I don't want it to be warm, or smooth, or anything like that. This preamp already has an overabundance of those qualities. Instead, I want it to be fast, dynamic, rhythmic, and exciting, with a real sense of "boogie".

Any suggestions?

boxsoft

Showing 1 response by gs5556

gs5556
1,242 posts
 

The sonic signature of your preamp is mostly the 6SN7 tubes. Voltage sag is not an issue (I think) because those tubes maybe draw 5mA each idle and maybe swing to 10mA on full signal. So the highest plate current is about 80mA for all 8 tubes which you do not hit unless playing full volume.

The 5AR4 drops the least amount of voltage for a given plate current than other standard issue rectifiers. At that plate current it's only about 5 volts, which should not really affect the linearity of the 6SN7 tubes. Rectifiers are more carefully chosen for power amplifiers, but in preamps I don't think will make much of a difference.

 

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