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In the PAM & PAS, selenium only used for filament voltage...

Posted by Interstage Tranny (A) on January 21, 2017 at 15:37:13

In Reply to: Selenium Rectifier Lowdown posted by mark.korda@myfairpoint.net on January 20, 2017 at 07:43:49:

For those preamps, a working selenium will have minimal sonic value, either positive or negative.

For the many phono and even full-function vintage preamps which used seleniums for high voltag, their sound, when working, is not bad. Compared to a silicon replacement, adjusted for proper voltage with a resistor, the selenium actually does yield a slightly warmer sound !

Considering that a few "world reference" vintage preamps came with selenium rectifiers for their high voltage supply, if the voltages are proper and hum is not heard, I am hesitant to replace the selenium, at first. I will then increase power supply capacitance and listen critically after coupling caps and voltages are fine.

If a phono stage, like the old chrome cuties, or a GE UPX-003_ is found for restoration, since their B+ selenium is working with less than 4 mA at under 150V DC, why replace it ? Because, someone says they are toxic ? If the voltages are fine, stable and the unit sounds fine, I might even leave the selenium alone for another decade....

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