will
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Mark,
I agree on the critical nature of subtle musical information. One of my first revelations in this way was putting two .048 bypass caps on my HR-1 Tweeter, one skipping the resistor and 3.3 cap, and one parallel to the 3.3. Rather than getting "brighter" the sound opened and increased micro complexity, softening what I was perceiving as brightness. It seems it was frequency focused "hardness" from lack of adjacent information increasing textures and softening edges.
I hear what Mark58 is talking about in 5R4GYs "brightness," but they too vary, and as Mark says, it all depends on what it is with, everything in the system effecting everything else.
This is why I am comparing only rectifier tendencies with a reference of your preferences for analytical/open/spacious/neutrality, based on the Chinese Ruby. Of the 5R4GYs I have tried, they go from very clean (the GE I have) to a too-warm for me Phillips I had. But I work toward the player in the room feel too, and characteristic to many 5R4s is an open spaciousness that lets you into the live feel...thus my thoughts as a possible alternative to the Ruby.
I did some quick/limited tests changing the rectifier in my CSP3. With my current somewhat rich sounding, but very revealing tube set the Shuguang/Ruby type actually surprised me, sounding quite good... It is quite open, though a little rigid in the mids, and a little mid biased, but for the first time I really "heard" it. Nice. And with your experience in serious listening and preferences, I think getting a new Shuguang is a valid choice, another rectifier having some risk since they play an important part of the sound in your very simple amp.
I put in an RCA 5U4G-ST with a top/side D getter, and to me it is more extended and neutral than the Chinese tube, but as expected it is a bit warmer causing a slightly less pronounced sense of open spaciousness in the more outward expression, but with more complexity/textures/nuance, giving fine information the Ruby does not provide. Also no slight mid edge or emphasis. I am always impressed with this tube... extended, balanced, neutral, warmish, spacious, detailed and complex all at once....at least here. It is just a very competent rectifier when it works.
Then I put in another 50s RCA 5U4... same construction, and it was a bit more spacious and dynamic than the first RCA, otherwise very similar, illustrating the variation of slight vintage and production shifts.
Next a light-brown base RCA 5R4GY with a single/bottom/side D getter...the D is vertical. A bit warmer feel than the Ruby, though quite spacious...similar openness with more extension both ways, a touch more on top in the balance. It is more complex and neutral feeling than the Ruby to me, also more musical, having a rounder, more natural sound...in this setting, it feels more organic and complex. With some time and searching these can be inexpensive.
The GE I have has a light brown base and double bottom/side getters floating horizontally on each side. It is musical with this warmish tube set, but leaner mid-mids up... less neutral, though this can be useful if needed.
Next a Tungsol 5R4GY. A dark brown base, the double/bottom/side D getters, horizontal and wired one above the other on one side. This is more extended than the other 5R4s, slightly warm, fast, spacious, articulate, and nicely balanced. This is a nice tube, but they are also more expensive...harder to get.
Thinking of Tungsol, I remembered some Chatham 5R4WGY I used for quite a long time in the Torii MkIII, the W signifying an "eggbeater" base in which the glass sets. Weird looking, but a very stable/solid tube. It just sounds well-made. More extended on bottom and more neutral than the RCA 5R4GY (with its more open/airy upper mids), the Chatham is the warmer of these 5R4s. It is nicely extended, dynamic and open, going lower than the Ruby...nice mids... a nice tube. Like the RCA 5U4G-ST, a bit more warmth. These are very inexpensive with a little searching.
From this limited test, with these settings and tubes, I think the RCA 5R4GY is closest in general presentation to the Ruby, especially similar in that open mid/upper mid spaciousness, but probably a little more open throughout and more natural/organic sounding to me. Probably a good bet for an alternative.
The Chatham less airy, but once you get used to it, you may get better bass, timbre and neutrality, and it is an inexpensive experiment. This too can be a really nice tube.
Or is it the Tungsol 5R4GY? Beautiful tube! The one I have been using a lot lately in this position.
The RCA 5U4G-ST with top/side D getter is a real winner also in this test. It is warmish, but quite evenly balanced, and if your system is revealing, it lets you hear a lot of what is deeper in the recording.
With your very specific needs and simple system it is hard to guess, but I hope these impressions help. Given the right setting, these are all nice tubes. With my more complex tube setup (8 positions pre and amp) I have more flexibility. I am leaving in the RCA 5R4GY for now to see how it holds up. Most times it has been a bit too open and clean for me, but right now it is beautiful. The tonally similar Ruby has never sounded as good in my system, but I like the more nuanced and natural vibe of RCA personally.
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