D

The Tektronix Type D is a differential amplifier plug-in for 500-series scopes.

Type D was the most sensitive plug-in of the original four. The bandwidth depends on the gain, ranging from 2 MHz at 50 mV/div to 300 kHz at 1 mV/div. There are two axes of sensitivity setting: a decade attenuator in front of a gain switch. This scheme would be reprised in Type W.

It displays the difference between two input signals, with a common-mode rejection ratio of 10,000. It has six tubes, on a shock-mounted subchassis to avoid microphonics.

Along with Types A, B, and C, Type D was introduced with the 531 and 535 in 1954.

At the time it was called Type 53D. It was briefly renamed 53D/54D in 1955 with the introduction of the 541 and 545. This quickly changed to 53/54D, and finally shortened to just "D" in 1959 with the introduction of the 5xxA scopes. Its final year in the catalog was 1968; it had been superseded by Type W and then 1A6.

K, L, and T are tied for longest production life, at 16 years. B, D, and G are next at 15 years.

Lavoie Laboratories produced an unauthorized clone, the Lavoie LA-265-D.

Internals

Early production used a pair of 5814 tubes at the input while late used 12AU7's. These two tube types have different heater currents, and because the heaters are series-wired, you cannot switch from one type to the other without circuit modification.