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Unplugged Plasma TV and Installed Genelex Gold Lion GZ-34 Rectifier tube. Wow!

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Posted on May 21, 2017 at 10:51:52
artemus
Audiophile

Posts: 15273
Joined: March 12, 2001
OK. So yesterday was a listening day. First one in some time now. Health issues had taken the desire. better health caused the ordering of new tubes which, among other things, re-sparked my interest.
So I had been given a tip that plasma TV's were very bad for the electric system and caused harshness in a system. I had not heard this indictment on plasma TV's before. My plasma TV is plugged into the same dedicated circuit as my 2 channel system. So I unplugged it and there seemed to be a greater quantity and quality of bass.

Then last night, I installed the new rectifier tube. I had read that the rectifier tube could make a difference in the sound. And it seemed to do so. It seemed to make for better spacing and placement of the instruments. Vocal harmonies were better in much the same way. And the bass was tighter now. My system is listed. I'm running Gold Lion KT-66 in the Latino ST-70 amp.

Is this experience for real? Or am I just experiencing a case of audiophilia? (Its a better tube than the Sovtek so it has to sound better) Anyone else experience this with the replacement of a rectifier tube?
=========================
You paid HOW MUCH for that electrical receptacle?!!! Are YOU nuts?

 

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RE: Unplugged Plasma TV and Installed Genelex Gold Lion GZ-34 Rectifier tube. Wow!, posted on May 21, 2017 at 12:56:43
Eli Duttman
Audiophile

Posts: 10455
Location: Monroe Township, NJ
Joined: March 31, 2000
Probably a mixture of "Proud Papa Syndrome" and reality. You put a good rectifier in, with great expectations, and the amp is running at the correct B+ voltage. Voila!


Eli D.

 

RE: Unplugged Plasma TV and Installed Genelex Gold Lion GZ-34 Rectifier tube. Wow!, posted on May 21, 2017 at 13:08:54
bcowen
Audiophile

Posts: 1076
Location: North Carolina
Joined: December 19, 2015
I obviously can't speak to your setup, but I remember one of my first tube rolling experiences was many years ago when I came across a stash of NOS RCA 5AR4's at a repair shop that was shutting down. Swapping those in for the Chinese tubes that came in the Cary SLM-70 amps was a huge change for the better. Well beyond imaginary or "I think I hear....".

My current Art amp uses a pair of GZ37's (CV378). NOS Mullards came in it, and I picked up several replacement pairs a while back so have found no need to play around with them....not even sure if anyone but Mullard made that particular tube.

Can't comment on the plasma...I have a plain Jane LED. :)

 

Yes on the 5AR5....no on the monitor, posted on May 21, 2017 at 13:18:46
Byrd69
Audiophile

Posts: 2875
Location: East Syracuse, New York
Joined: August 23, 2004
I have a 50" plasma monitor between my speakers, behind my electronics, hooked to the same circuit. I heard no difference when I put the monitor into use a couple months ago.


Your interest may vary but the results will be same. (Byrd 2020)

I can't compete with the dead. (Buck W. 2010)

Cowards can't be heroes. (Byrd 2017)

Why don't catfish have kittens? (Moe Howard 1937)

 

rectifier tubes., posted on May 22, 2017 at 07:06:48
In my world of guitar amps... huge difference. Both tone and reliability.

Been using Sylvania and GE NOS 5AR4 lately. Not as stout sounding as a good British Mullard or Dutch Amperex... but close. And reliable! Great in combo amps.

There are a ton of good old-stock 5U4GB rectifiers. My favorites are the black plates... TS, GE, and RCA.

Same goes for NOS 5Y3GT tubes. GE 6087 and Bendix 6106 seem to be best of the mil spec. 1950 era GE BP 5Y3GT are great tubes, too.

 

RE: rectifier tubes., posted on May 22, 2017 at 13:49:25
Eli Duttman
Audiophile

Posts: 10455
Location: Monroe Township, NJ
Joined: March 31, 2000
Try the series SS diode tweak plus a Sovtek 5AR4 in an appropriate amp. I think you'll be pleasantly surprised. No arcing and the B+ rail voltage is correct.

The cost of US made OS 5U4s continues to escalate. Only the GE 5U4GB remains "reasonably" priced. Russian and Chinese ST bottle 5U4s are garbage. Fortunately, the current production ElectroHarmonix (EH) 5U4GB is quite decent and it is not expensive.


Eli D.

 

Plasma TV = SMPS + PWM display, posted on May 22, 2017 at 14:08:16
gusser
Audiophile

Posts: 3649
Location: So. California
Joined: September 6, 2006
There's really nothing special about a Plasma TV power wise over most other modern AV gear. That being a switch mode power supply. All TV's have had these since the mid 1980s.

I guess the only specific drawback with the Plasma is they do draw more power and thus the power supply may emit more RFI/EMI. And the display panel is PWM based to make gray scales (neon lights don't dim linearly) so that too can emit RFI/EMI.

But consider Europe has strict standards for RFI/EMI with the USA being a bit more lax. But as these TVs are sold world wide, they conform to the strict European standards.

So while it's possible, there shouldn't be much EMI/RFI from a TV unless your tube gear is right under it.

 

RE: rectifier tubes., posted on May 22, 2017 at 21:22:39
Luckily, I've gathered up a good amount of rectifiers over the years. They make all the difference when restoring vintage equipment.


8^)

 

RE: Unplugged Plasma TV and Installed Genelex Gold Lion GZ-34 Rectifier tube. Wow!, posted on May 25, 2017 at 12:15:20
elektron
Audiophile

Posts: 952
Location: midwest
Joined: February 18, 2004
The Gold Lion U77/GZ34 full wave rectifier is an outstanding tube. Performance rivals if not equals old stock GZ34. How a rectifier sounds is of major consideration. The G.L. U77 sounds wonderful in the amps I have tried it.

Plasma displays are noisy. Illumination is the result of small gas discharge at the pixel level. As to whether this correlates with what
you describe is the question. I would think not but who knows for sure.

Happy Listening.

 

RE: Unplugged Plasma TV and Installed Genelex Gold Lion GZ-34 Rectifier tube. Wow!, posted on May 26, 2017 at 07:03:38
kentaja
Manufacturer

Posts: 4609
Joined: March 26, 2001
The Gold LionU77/GZ34 is a fine sounding tube it is not however a NOS Mullard. Not even close really.

 

RE: rectifier tubes., posted on May 26, 2017 at 14:41:15
JSTRM
Dealer

Posts: 414
Location: Montana
Joined: March 7, 2003
Contributor
  Since:
August 28, 2008
I get the reliability issue of old Mullard, GE and Syl 5AR4's as opposed to the new manu recto's...but can you please explain the "tone" difference you experience?
If it's a matter of a circuit voltage change, either + or -, I can see that to a certain extent..but what else changes the tone?
V/r
jstrm

 

RE: rectifier tubes., posted on May 27, 2017 at 18:13:49
zacster
Audiophile

Posts: 2175
Location: NYC
Joined: November 22, 2003
I have a GE 5U4 tube in my main amp that I pulled from an early 1950s DuMont TV that was in use up until the mid 2000s, by an acquaintance's GRANDMother. He was my age, and I'm 62 now, so do the math.

This tube just keeps on going, and is currently playing Whipping Post. Gregg Allman, RIP.

That TV is still in my house. I gave him $50 for it. The tube alone is almost worth it, but I also have a quad of 6L6 from it, and I don't even know what else. I tried to restore it, and I had turned it on hoping for some sound, but nothing. I then broke both wrists the next day in a cycling accident and never went back to it. The schematic is still hanging in my basement. The 10kv in the flyback just scared the hell out of me so I never tried the video. And talk about messy wiring, it was all they could do to make these back then and get them out the door. Wasn't "The Honeymooners" on Dumont?

 

Voltage sag characteristics plays into "tone.", posted on May 28, 2017 at 17:24:26
Us guitar guys use the sag, to add effect to final tone.

8^)

 

RE: rectifier tubes., posted on May 31, 2017 at 07:46:42
Can't tell you how many amps I've restored which still had the OEM tubes in them. I have a whole stash of used RCA 7025. Man, do those tube test high or what?


8^)

 

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