As I said on another thread, rectifier tubes drop different amounts of B+ voltage. This will affect operating points in an amplifier circuit. It is best to use the original rectifier that the circuit was designed with. Otherwise you are second-guessing the amp designer's goal in achieving a certain sonic goal!
Rectifier Tubes
Hi all, can anyone tell me why I hear so much of a change in my amplifier's sound (Coincident Frankensteins; 6em7 driver tube, 300b output tube) when I change the rectifier tube?
I just got the following message from a tube vendor:
"Further, rectifier tubes (5U4) don't pass or amplify any sort of signal so our policy of no returns for tone especially applies to rectifiers. Changing a rectifier tube shouldn't change the tone of your amplifier at all, not even a little bit. This is why many high end amplifiers have solid state rectifiers. "
They actually did authorize a return (I was returning because the tubes were distorting, not because of tone), so I'm not gathering ammo for a fight. I'd just like to understand why my experience is so different from this (presumably highly knowledgeable) individual's beliefs.
Thanks.
I just got the following message from a tube vendor:
"Further, rectifier tubes (5U4) don't pass or amplify any sort of signal so our policy of no returns for tone especially applies to rectifiers. Changing a rectifier tube shouldn't change the tone of your amplifier at all, not even a little bit. This is why many high end amplifiers have solid state rectifiers. "
They actually did authorize a return (I was returning because the tubes were distorting, not because of tone), so I'm not gathering ammo for a fight. I'd just like to understand why my experience is so different from this (presumably highly knowledgeable) individual's beliefs.
Thanks.