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In the Forum: Melquiades Amplifier
In the Thread: Gas voltage reference 0A2 tubes.
Post Subject: Re: 5651 vs 0C2Posted by Jack 14 on: 9/7/2005
Hi Romy,
Well, I do not pretend to "know" those Rare-Gas zeners very well, neither to have "listened" (so to speak) to any. They are so low-performance devices when compared to the silicon technology that it is technically a pity, but, it doesn't prevent them to have other audible advantages over the sand-based devices. A tube is a tube, after all...
The 5651/0G3s were designed to provide a precision reference (they use a radioactive-doped gas, if I remember) for tube electronic regulators used in high-end instrumentation or communication equipment (the Collins R-390/URR use one in it's regulated PS, for example). The flip side being that they were optimized to run at low currents only.
I never met face-to face a tube audio amp using one, despite I have seen schematics of such +B regulators or Scr Grid regulators from time to time. CJs and ARs do not use them either...
Good listening !
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