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filter caps in 5f4-How much is too much?

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  • filter caps in 5f4-How much is too much?

    thinking of building a 5f4 next. My question is when using a tube rectifier,how much can I stiffen up the filtering?the schematic I'm looking at(Weber)has 16u-choke-16u 16u 8u using a 5u4gb or solid state equivilent. Can I up this to 40u- choke- 40u 20u 10u? Remember that's using a TUBE rectifier 5u4gb or maybe a 5ar4/gz34type

  • #2
    A 5U4G is good for 40uF reservoir. (But it will sound a bit less 'supery' if it is cleaner)

    A 5AR4 is good for 60uF reservoir, but the B+ wil be about 30V or so higher, which will increase the headroom a bit and keep it alot cleaner and brighter (- but you may not like this)
    Last edited by tubeswell; 09-21-2009, 09:06 PM.
    Building a better world (one tube amp at a time)

    "I have never had to invoke a formula to fight oscillation in a guitar amp."- Enzo

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    • #3
      I thought about building a 5f4 next too.
      Not to change the behavior of the amp I wouldn't go over 22uF instead of the 16uF all the way.
      I want it to sound as close to the original as possible, that's why.
      Just my .02 $

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      • #4
        Originally posted by txstrat View Post
        I thought about building a 5f4 next too.
        Not to change the behavior of the amp I wouldn't go over 22uF instead of the 16uF all the way.
        I want it to sound as close to the original as possible, that's why.
        Just my .02 $
        The vintage Caps of yesteryear were rated from -10% to -20% up to PLUS 80%!!!
        So that means a 16uF cap could be 13uF on up to 29uF and still be within the extreme ends of the specs.
        I don't think very many here (myself included) could tell me which amp has the 16uF or the 22uF caps and I doubt it would make much tonal difference if it was 33uF over a 16uF to 22uF cap either.
        Sometimes the very first preamp stage sounds very very slightly stiffer when you use a 22uF cap and it called for an 8uF cap.
        Bruce

        Mission Amps
        Denver, CO. 80022
        www.missionamps.com
        303-955-2412

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        • #5
          Bruce
          I see what you mean.
          I'm not as expierienced as many folks in this forum, that's why I usually use the values from the schematics (slightly higher if not available) and that's why I suggested 22uF.
          What benefit would it have to use 47uF then? Less hum? I mean, if it doesn't make a (big) difference tonewise or whatever, why go up to 47uF and pay more for the caps?

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