Pimping up the Brinkmann Taurus’ RöNT tubed power supply.

[Kuoppis]

Who would have ever thought, that only sparsely electro-mechanically talented me would one day tamper with the tubed power supply of his turntable? Me neither.

Yet, here we go: This is what I received today from Brinkmann Audio. It’s a Brinkmann BZ34 Rectifier Tube Simulator.

It goes in here:

The purpose is to replace the 5AR4 tube in the middle.

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[Kuoppis]

When the architecture of the first RöNT was developed a GZ34 NOS Mullard was used in the middle position. However, in the meantime those NOS Mullards have become hard to find, and in case of success painful to pay for. Therefore, Brinkmann replaced them in later products with a Sovtek version of the GZ34.

While the Sovtek fit the bill and did the job, the NOS Mullard sounded better. So, Brinkmann developed the BZ34, a transformer based tube simulator, with the same properties and sound as the NOS Mullard. Looks kinda neat I find.

Fiddle, fiddle, twist, twist - and in goes the BZ34.

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[Kuoppis]

And it sounds just wonderful, not a bit, but quite a bit better than the Sovtek I removed. Very cool thing that is.


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[mep]

If your power supply came with a real NOS Mullard GZ34 rectifier, it should last many years.

 

[Kuoppis]

If your power supply came with a real NOS Mullard GZ34 rectifier, it should last many years.

Yes, that is correct. Unfortunately it came with the Sovtek, as mine is a RöNT II and less than one year old.

The DD tables can even not be operated with the original, as the motor requires 500mV for initialization.


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[mep]

I assume you haven't had the opportunity to hear a real Mullard GZ34 in your power supply. If not, it would be cool for you to hear one in your system to hear the difference between your BZ34 substitute and the real Mullard GZ34 your power supply was designed for. I just checked Ebay and there are plenty of NOS Mullard GZ-34 tubes available for under $200.00. Since these tubes are known to last 10 years and longer, it would be a bargain if you liked how it sounds in your power supply.

 

[Kuoppis]

Yes, that might be indeed interesting.

According to Brinkmann the BZ34 sounds pretty much the same, with the difference that it does not deteriorate like tubes do. So I’m pretty happy with it. This is especially, as I was not aware of the tubes in the power supply making such a difference before the BZ34 was announced.

Therefore, no desire to venture into tube rolling, as the BZ34 works like a charm.


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[Kuoppis]

I assume you haven't had the opportunity to hear a real Mullard GZ34 in your power supply. If not, it would be cool for you to hear one in your system to hear the difference between your BZ34 substitute and the real Mullard GZ34 your power supply was designed for. I just checked Ebay and there are plenty of NOS Mullard GZ-34 tubes available for under $200.00. Since these tubes are known to last 10 years and longer, it would be a bargain if you liked how it sounds in your power supply.

A little clarification on the Mullard. We’re not talking about just any variant here. The GZ34 used (only) in the Brinkmann RöNT II Anniversary edition is the Mullard GZ34 4 Notch.


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[aKnyght]

very cool -- a nice piece of engineering by brinkmann to work around the problem. also, great that the solution is designed so that one can retro-fit earlier versions -- how often does that happen?!

it would be interesting to go back and A/B test with the original (non-RöNT) power supply to see how these two forms of SS rectification compare. i am sure the BZ34 + RöNT would be the winner but would be fun anyway.

fwiw: not sure about rectifiers but sovtek signal tubes are the worst. otoh, the 6c33c-b power tube is fabulous. go figure.

 

[mep]

A little clarification on the Mullard. We’re not talking about just any variant here. The GZ34 used (only) in the Brinkmann RöNT II Anniversary edition is the Mullard GZ34 4 Notch.


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Oh, the Mullard GZ34 4 notch version beloved by guitar players for use in their amps. They are still available also. The holy grail Mullard GZ34 is the original fat base.

 

[MPW]

Oh, the Mullard GZ34 4 notch version beloved by guitar players for use in their amps. They are still available also. The holy grail Mullard GZ34 is the original fat base.

I use the fat base in my Cary SLP-05. Fantastic tube. Worth the price of admission in my opinion.

 

[RPM-123]

Oh, the Mullard GZ34 4 notch version beloved by guitar players for use in their amps. They are still available also. The holy grail Mullard GZ34 is the original fat base.

I thought the "holy grail" GZ34 tube was this one.