2. amps-preamps
  3. 1168277951

Options to replace Supratek Chennin Pre

Looking for suggestions for a replacement pre for my Supratek Chennin Preamp. I absolutely love most everything about this pre except in my system it is slightly lean. I would like to stay with tubes unless the nature of tube pres is to be a little lean. HT pass thru is a requirement. The Supratek has a HT pass thru and I love how simple it is to backdoor HT through the hi fi. Price range will be about $3,500.00 new or used. I want something that will retain or exceed the holographic, open, precise sound stage that the Supra offers but with more slam and extension in the bass. I recently pulled the pre out of the system and ran direct from the wadia 861 and bass slam was improved to an exceptable degree but obviously lost all benefits of tubes.
System:
Wadia 861
Supratek
Parasound JC 1s
Vandy 3A sig
2WQ subs
Audioquest Cheetah, Cardas Golden Cross intercon
Alphacore MI2 spk cable bi wired
braro

Showing 3 responses by ikkyu2

ikkyu2
35 posts
 
Braro, you haven't mentioned what rectifier tube you are using. They make a huge difference in extracting the best from all of the other tubes in the Supratek.

The Sovtek 5AR4 is junk. For $40 you can step up to the Bendix 6106. You'll find better tone top to bottom, and better bass as well. For real bass punch, a Philips Miniwatt GZ34 will shock you.

Also, if you're running the stock Sovtek 5881, replace with the Sovtek KT-66. Again another $40. Big pay off.

Those two additions will help your RCAs show their stuff.

Best wishes,
ikkyu2
35 posts
 
Braro, no the KT-66s were new Sovtek, a matached pair. I think I got them from Brendan at tubeworld.com. Reasonable in cost, I'm recalling $40-ish. A good place to start.
ikkyu2
35 posts
 
Thanks, Fiddler. Yeah, Andy's cool. Got a great reputation for trustworthiness. I'm awaiting a shipment from him of Tungsol 6NS7-GTB's.
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