Modwright PS 9.0 Rectifier Tube Rolling

Cellcbern

VIP/Donor
Jul 30, 2015
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Washington, DC
I am surprised at how big a difference rectifier tubes make in the Modwright PS 9.0 power supply (note that voltage drop is not an issue with the PS 9.0 so that does not account for the differences I am hearing). After extensive listening I concluded that my Phillips 5R4GYS, 1949 RCA 5U4G, and 60's Mullard GZ32 5V4 are superior in the PS 9.0 to any 5AR4 I have tried including NOS Mullards and the Phillips metal base tube. The RCA 5U4G and Mullard 5V4 are pretty close in sound quality, and both are more articulate and natural sounding than the Phillips 5R4GYS. I also picked up an NOS 1944 Tung Sol 5U4G (not the 5U4GB) which by a small margin (lower noise floor) was the best rectifier tube I had heard in the Modwright PS 9.0 until the new Sophia Electric blue 274B arrived in today's mail. This special 274B is designed to be a direct replacement for the 5U4G. I started listening to it in the PS 9.0 and right out of the box it produced the most natural piano tone I have ever gotten from my system. I will report back once it is broken in.

Jeff Day has reviewed this tube for Positive Feedback and on his "Jeff's Place" blog for anyone who is interested.
 

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