Hello folks,

What are your recommendations for the rectifier tube for the CSP2 (old style CSP upgraded, if that makes any difference)?  

Thanks for any input.

Jim

I've had a Bendix 6016 in my csp for about 2 years - absolutely no complaints.

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There's no doubt about the physical toughness of Red Bank tubes.  The 6106 was intended for use in (SIC) Nike anti-aircraft missiles.  Being built better than the proverbial brick outhouse is, apparently, good for sound too.  :>))

Wow, you are going to have a lot of listening fun with the CSP2~!

For me it's a Mullard 5y3G. I use the CSP 2 strictly for headphone listening with the HD 600s and I have heard nothing better.

OK I found a Mullard GZ34 used tested as new for the low, low price of $89. It is definitely different from the International Servicemaster GZ34 made by Matsushima Japan using the old Mullard tool I die. The Mullard is shorter and has less glass at the top, it also doesn't glow as bright as the Jap copy. Both sound good even when I swap them from amp to preamp and back again and they sound better than the Mazdas IMO and I love the Mazda. Now I need to find one more for the phono stage.

I know it's been a long time since the last post, but I thought this was a good place to post some of my recent observations on various rectifiers in my CSP2.

My test environment consisted of:
CSP2 (#063), Amperex 6922 PQ Orange Label input/driver tubes
Tripp Lite isolation transformer, DHC1 power chord
ZDAC-1 (#023), DH Labs D75 coax cable, DSRII 0.5m IC
Squeezebox receiver, Apple Lossless files
Beyer DT880 headphones, Silver Dragon dual entry cable.

Below are the rectifier tubes, and my observations.

5Y3G Sylvania - articulate, clean, open, airy; bass: slightly lean, detailed, not impatctful; mids: detailed, good separation, light (vs. dark); treble: cymbals muted.

5Y3g Tung Sol - dark, musical; bass: deeper, more impactful, deep rumble; mids: richer, darker; treble: cymbals sparkle.

5Y3GT Tung Sol - slightly dark, spacial; bass: deep, impactful; mids: rich, dark, detailed; treble: detailed.

5Y3GT GE 5 Star 6087 - dull, no sparkle, not revealing.

5Y3GT RCA - very slightly dark, musical; bass: deep, impactul; mids: lean vocals, otherwise rich; treble: unremarkable.

5Y3GT Tung Sol JAN VT197A - clean, articulate, revealing, dynamic, wide soundstage; bass: deep, impactful; mids: natural vocals, rich; treble: clean, sparkly.

5Y3WGT GE USN 6087 - dull, no sparkle, not revealing; mids: prominent vocals.

5U4G Mullard - soft, smooth, compact soundstage; bass: prominent, boomy, poorly defined.

5U4GB GE - dark, musical; bass: deep, impactul; mids: dull vocals; treble: recessed, weak.

5U4WGB Sylvania 5931 - dark, not revealing, musical, congested soundstage; bass: unremarkable; mids: strong vocals; treble: recessed, weak.

5AR4 Amperex - dark, bass heavy, clean, musical; bass: deep, prominent, punchy; mids: dark; treble: recessed, weak.

274B Sophia - fair to slightly dulled detail, immense three dimensional soundstage; bass: deep impactful; mids: natural, very slightly dull; treble: clean but no sparkle.

The differences between the Tung Sol 5Y3G(T) tubes were very slight.

The comparison was just that, a comparison and not a detailed analysis.

I may have to try a Tung Sol 5U4.  Thanks for the suggestion.  Until I did this comparison this weekend, I didn't realize how close the Tung Sols grouped to the ideal.

In the Taboo, however, when coupled with a CSP2 and the MG944 speakers, it needed the strong bottom end of the 5AR4 to keep from sounding bass anemic and harsh.  I use another Tung Sol 5Y3GT/VT-197A in the CSP2 feeding the Taboo (same Amperex 6922s as the other CSP2), and Amperex or Mullard 5AR4 with RCA 12AT7 blackplate input.  This combination makes the MG944s sound rich, dynamic and quick.