Preamp Deal of the Century

I got my sauvignon about a year ago. I waited for it almost 9 months. It was when Supratek had announced that it was about to close. My sauvignon came into a Chardonnay exterior (there is the chardonnay name engraved on it) but Mick assured me that it was indeed a sauvignon. They had run out of sauvignon exteriors and as supratek was closing, he used a chardonnay exterior. He gave me a paper that was assuring that it was indeed a sauvignon.

I am extremely satisfied from Mick. His emails were very responsive, and there was a response to every of my (more than 60) emails I sent him. I did not get any rude response, and I was very excited that he was promptly answer even my most silly questions.

I love my pre. The finish is spot on, no problems at the chrome plates. It also has a headphone out for my Sennheiser 650 (matching their 300 Ohms).

I can not be more satisfied than I am. I hope Mick is well...

Concerning the glare... I have never heard of it... I am not using cones, just a granite plinth under my sauvignon, and I use Kimber Select 1036 interconnects in my system. I think interconnects are the most important upgrade and you really need top of the class with supratek components to let them perform without compromises. After going to Kimber I couldn't believe that my system could sound that transparent and yet sweet... Its like there is a small brain in there that determines which element to make sweet (vocals) and which to make bright (cymbals). I cant find any sound signature... Everything depends on the source and the recording mastering. I really love my sauvignon :)

The best amps I ever paired my Sauvignon are the Malbec monoblocks. While I was waiting from Mick to make them for me I used a Quad 606. I was happy with the pair, excellent sound and good midrange. It was like you were looking through a window on a bright day with the curtains on. But when the Malbecs arrived, it was like I removed the curtain from the window and I could see a colourful landscape and at the same time feel the wind on my face. The micro and macro details come in spades from the speakers adding a realistic feeling of space and air between the instruments. The midrange with the EL34 is magical. Also the gain matching of the Supratek preamps with the amps is unsurpassed as the Malbecs are made for high gain preamp match.

Slowhand,

I ve got them a year ago. I needed to wait a couple of years for them to be finished as I ordered them the period that Supratek wasn't on business. I believe today that Supratek is back on business it will not take more than a few months for them to get ready. I still feel that I could wait another couple of years every time I sit and listen them. They are masterpieces Also the option to remove completely the negative feedback, or to choose variable amounts of negative feedback with positive feedback makes them sound like SET (phenomenal mids and sound that floats in front of the speakers) and at the same time have the control of a SS amp on the lows. I honestly haven't heard anything that sounds better than these. Here is a photo of my setup:

http://img20.imageshack.us/img20/3070/workinggw.png