Anyone know of used Syrah on the market? as impossible as that might seem :)
I'm looking for a good deal on a preamp, and this seems like one that would be hard to beat! |
Does the Syrah have balanced input/output or just RCA? Does the design favor one over the other (usually if a pre has both, isn't the balanced favored)? What is the gain on the syrah? |
I'm joining the crowd of people who own a Syrah. Put my order in today, just the "standard" piece, not that it's standard in anyway! Mick said that he's sold about 150 units so far, and that soon, will have to charge $3000 because of improvements he keeps making. For now, they are still only $2500.
He says that his production time has gotten down to 3 months, but I'm preparing to wait 5 or 6 months. Until then, I'll be using the pre on my VTL IT85 (basically a VTL 2.5) with my new VAC 70/70, which is also coming this week. |
Patrick, I'm the guy from DC, and I've gone ahead and put an order in for a new Syrah. Guess I should take that "wanted" down... especially since I'm now committed to waiting! I figure it'll be worth whatever little improvements Mick has made over the months. |
Can someone tell me what the tube compliment is in the Syrah? On Mick's site, it says 417/5842 for the phono, then 6SN7 and 5881. Even if there is two of each (which I'm assuming there is), the picture has *8 tubes*, not 6. What is the other tube pair?
thanks... |
yep, and there is that sweeeet lookin audionote M7 from singapore on the classifieds right now. would love to hear what that sounds like... |
Hi5Harry... when did you order your syrah? |
What has been folks experience plugging their Supratek into: a conditioner, direct into the wall, an isolation transformer, etc? |
Thanks Asa. But what about isolation transformers? These aren't really filters, but rather regulators of the power, no? |
tubegroover... YOU SAID IT! i don't care if i have to wait 3 months, 6 months or a year! -- i just want to best he can do! so Mick, take your time and do your BEST! (my unit was ordered the third week of september, and is currently undergoing quality control... and boy am i excited!!) |
hey bwhite (brian?)... i checked my kenrads, and they say vt231. something about them, maybe because i have them in my vac as well... just too much. sounds a little more veiled than the black glass tungsol.
you also liked the sylvania metal base 6sn7W... would this be similar to the black base, top getter, sylvania 6sn7W? i have a pair of these, and thought they were extended, but a little thin... |
if i needed some extra outlets, i guess i could just get one of PS Audio's juice bars, or Cardas Audio's power strip... |
i think it really depends on the sensitivity of your amp. i don't know the rowland, but my vac is pretty sensitive, and likes ideally under 20db of gain, so the top switches are set to low output (forward), and the back dial is set to highest output (all the way counter-clockwise). |
my syrah is finally here. i'm just getting it settled in, and am initially impressed. the two best qualities about the pre for me are clearly it's dynamic energy (it just sounds totally unhindered), and it's smoooth presentation. i have a feeling i'll hear more as i continue to listen...
btw, from some initial tube rolling, my favorite 6SN7 is a round plate black glass tung-sol, NOT the kenrad black glass vt231 (which was a little dull compared to the tungsol, and noisy). i was surprised... i mean, that black glass kenrad is AWESOME in my vac 70/70.
i also have some national union black glass vt231 and sylvania 6SN7W (not the metal base) that i've tried: the NUs were along the same lines as the kenrad, but maybe a little darker, and the sylvania were on the dry side. the tungsol is a really nicely balanced tube for this pre, and is QUIET. |
I think goertz and purist audio should be in there with the other cable auditions, along with cardas and kimber. i personally did not like the MIT cables I had, but they were from the lower end of their line up.
i was like you tim, started off small, with a tube integrated about 2 years ago, and it fueled a big fire. i've easily heard differences in NOS tubes and cables -- have fun! you'll love the supratek. despite a big upgrade bug gnawing at me, i am too scared to change anything in my system now as it sounds SO good. |
got some 6F6Gs and they are AWESOME. thanks Eccl. |
So, I sold my Syrah, w/ NOS tubes, and the receiver (a really great guy), w/ Avantguard Duos, Audiomeca Mephisto, custom 300b amp, said that in his system, the Syrah was clearly beaten out by the Audioprism Mantissa. Although he said the Syrah was very open and transparent, he said the soundstage was smaller, and less focused. In fact, he said his BAT 50Se also beat the Syrah, with the Audioprism beating them all.
How's that for reality check!! |
Hey Dean... we used FedEx Intl Economy Air.. took about 2 days, but man it was pricey. Worth it though, I'd rather have something arrive safe, and be trackable, then to have it get lost in customs. The unit was mine, so it was completely broken in, and in terms of synergizing, maybe it was bad synergy? but I feel that a good preamp should make any system better, no? |
