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copper cap rectifier

202.123.2.93
Posted on October 30, 2001 at 01:56:00
jerry


 
Hello all

Anyone ever heard or used a copper cap recifier instead of a tube rectifier?

Looks like it is a direct replacement and there is no need to use filament voltage.

 

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Re: copper cap rectifier, posted on October 30, 2001 at 02:21:19
David McGown
Audiophile

Posts: 584
Location: Silver Spring, Maryland
Joined: September 29, 1999
 Solid state diodes plus a current inrush limiter plus a resistor simulating the voltage drop is not the same a tube rectifier. Garden variety diodes (iN1007, etc) produces switching noise when the current goes into reversal, which is less with better types but still present. Hexfreds and high speed/high efficiency diodes help here, however, a reverse recovery spike filter will smooth the sound considerably.

Considering that there are sonic differences between different manufacturers tube rectifiers of the same type, I would expect the Copper Cap to have a distinctly different sound than a tube rectifier.

 

Re: thanks for your comments david, posted on October 30, 2001 at 05:07:36
jerry


 
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Re: copper cap rectifier, posted on October 30, 2001 at 14:57:25
TG
Audiophile

Posts: 571
Location: Sydney
Joined: April 5, 2000
 I have a pair of the WZ34s, which is Weber's replacement for the 5AR4 rectifier, and I've used them in Welborne Laurel 300B IIX amps.

They sound, well, "sandy" :)

I felt that their shortcomings outweighed the benefits. There was definitely more "weight" to the music using these, and they add emphasis to very loud, aggressive rock - particularly in the bass and lower midrange. On the other hand the music loses all the delicacy and clarity that an all valve system has and also seemed to lose some top end detail.

It was an interesting experiment (and not an expensive one), but in the end I thought that the best use of these guys would be as replacement parts for guitar amps. If you have the dollars to spare I'd recommend putting the money towards a pair of nice NOS rectifiers instead.

Cheers
TG

 

Re: copper cap rectifier, posted on October 30, 2001 at 16:06:43
Anand


 
This is a great statement as you compared it in an amplifier that many of us consider to be fantastic...i.e. the Laurels.

Thanks,
Anand.

 

Re: copper cap rectifier, posted on October 30, 2001 at 18:33:40
Eli Duttman
Audiophile

Posts: 10455
Location: Monroe Township, NJ
Joined: March 31, 2000
 The prices of European manufactured NOS 5AR4s are upwards of $85 a tube and rising constantly. If it fits mechanically, the Mullard made GZ33 is an excellent substitute at about $40. NOS Matsushita (Japan) manufactured 5AR4s are another "affordable" choice. Matsushita bought their tooling from Mullard and copied Mullard's design.

Eli D.

 

THANKS !!, posted on October 30, 2001 at 21:24:22
jerry


 
... These are the types of comments i wanted to read...

 

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