Supratek Tubes and Tube Swappin' for Everybody

Here are my listening impressions of the 6106, GZ33, and GZ34 rectifiers in my system. These listening impressions were with the 6F6G in the regulator position. Beefy regulators with high plate dissipation may tend to reduce the audible differences between the rectifiers. In my system the differences between rectifiers were easily recognized. The Cabernet sounded great with all of the rectifiers I listened to. It all comes down to personal preference.

6106 - Some leanness from about 300hz on down. The rectifier WAS detailed and very good but gave up some pitch resolution in the bass compared to the GZ33. The 6106 required 24 hours continuous use before it even started to open up.

GZ33 - The warmest of the 3 rectifiers in terms of freq response. Excellent low-level resolution. I've used this rectifier for about 18 months. The GZ33 required about 4 hours use before it opened up.

GZ34 - This is the Amperex BugleBoy metal-base with double-getters. The measured freq response in my system was similar to the 6106. There was the same leanness from 300hz down. This rectifier gave me the highest resolution of the 3 rectifiers. It was very airy with excellent harmonics and the best pitch resolution in the bass. The GZ34 required about 4 hours use before it opened up.

Jazzdude, thanks for the post. Great feedback on the rectifier tubes. Keep that 6106 burning. I am not sure how long it takes to fully break in but once it does, its pretty amazing. However...it does not work well with all regulator tubes. I have not used the 6F6G so my experience with those and the 6106 is zilch. The 6106 works best with the 350B's.

When I asked Mick about what tubes I could roll in the regulator position he said the heater voltage has to be 6.3v and the heater current can't be more than 1.5a.
According to the western electric datasheet for the 350b it says the heater current is 1.6a. I recall someone in the "preamp deal of the century thread" said that using 350b's damaged their SupraTek powersupply.

http://www.westernelectric.com/spec_sheets/350B.pdf

Yall might want to check with Mick to see if the 350B is ok to use.

I was interested in using the 350b myself but this kind of put me off a bit.

Bummer. I'm going to remove my 350B's and go back to the Sovteks that the preamp came with. :)

I don't know... is .1a extra heater current in a regulator really too much for the power supply to handle?

I haven't heard of anyone having trouble with the 350B's and know quite a few people using them.

The power supply problems I am aware of are caused mostly by fast starting - direct heated rectifiers.

Jazzdude, before I ever tried the 350B, I emailed Mick and asked him if it was okay. He said it was okay and his only caution to me was to guard against unscrupulous tube dealers selling counterfeit 350B's.

I have had no problem with my power supply that I know of and I have been using the 350B's for 1 1/2 to 2 years.

BTW, I just got in two more 6106's and I got the music back. No doubt about in my Chardonnay. The bass is much tighter and the soundstage is incredibly more focused. The difference between the Mullard 5AR4 and the 6106 is rather dramatic. No going back for me. The 5AR4 has boomy bass and less defined edges all the way around compared to the 6106. But Bwhite may be correct in implying that there is a synergy between the 6106 and the 350Bs.