Mondie,
I hope you'll receive the Cab next week! Mine will be shipped just before X'mas (if according to schedule). I hope the stock tubes are good as tube rolling is not really my cup of tea. I want to spend more time enjoying music. Of course, this will change if someone can tell me there are killer tubes out there for the Cab...:-))
I will pair the Cabernet with Plinius SA-102. Source front is a Wadia WT3200 transport + Electrompanient ECD-1 DAC and a Sony SCD-XA777ES. I am using the SA-102 to drive a pair of ATC-50PSL (passive) speakers.
Cheers, Kenji |
Mondie,
PX4 tubes are normally for power amps whereas 101D are typically used on pre-amps. 101D is very microphonic and hard to obtain. According to Mick, he has found a way of using the PX4 to transfer the sound from 6NS7 with perfection (very stable and great-sounding, too!). See the link below for a blow-up PX4! Cheers, Kenji
www.diyhifisupply.com/tubes/px4-mesh-large.jpg |
Hi Guys, can CV345 (aka WE350A) made by STC in England be a substitute for WE350B? I have found these CV345's in my local hi-fi shop and the dealer claims these are as good as WE350B. Thanks. |
Thanks Ecclectique for the clarification! My search for WE350b continues... |
Mondie, have you received your Cabernet? Dying to know how it sounds!!
Sorlowski, I enjoyed reading your thread. It did not bore me to death, in fact it actually strengthened my faith in Supratek. I'm sure with you'll get your ideal "apartment" soon.
Cheers,
Kenji...still waiting patiently for my Cabernet. |
Genelex KT-66 (smoke glass) for power regulation -> Are they really good? BTW, Happy Thanks Giving to all Supratek Owners!
Cheers,
Kenji |
Thanks Eccletique! And congrats Mondie & Slipknot1! The Genelex KT-66's are expensive! Since I already have a pair of NU 350B, I will stick to these tubes and unless anyone can tell me the NU 350B is no match for the Sylania 6F6g or Genelex KT-66.
Tubes that I have acquired so far (all NOS):
Mullar 5AR4 (small black base)
NU 350B
STC 6SN7GTY
Well, I'm still waiting for my Cabernet...
Kenji |
Hi Ecclectique, I got a pair of smoke glass Genalex KT-66 today. I just couldn't resist the opportunity even though the 350B's are the best. However, the Genelex is only half the price of the NU 350B's.
Cheers,
Kenji |
My Cabernet is on its way! My Cabernet is on its way!
It'll arrive just before X'mas (crossing my fingers now). I hope FedEx will do a good job and pleeeease don't screw up my X'mas!
Merry X'mas and Happy New Year,
Kenji |
Help! No sound is coming out from my new Cabernet. I called Mick and followed his instruction, all toggle switches (HT & Mute switches) were switched towards front, RCA/XLR output toggle switch to RCA (since I'm using only RCA ICs), input position to #2 (#1 is XLR input, in fact I had tried all positions), but still no sound coming out! Mick is still on holiday and it's difficult to get hold of him. Interconnects were checked thoroughly and all tubes were lit up but the Cab did want to sing. I would send the unit back to Mick if it sill doesn't work.
Kenji |
Problem solved! Checked all the tubes again and found the 6SN7's were dead cold - unplugged umblical cord and reconnected it, still dead cold but the rest of the tubes were okay. Unplugged umblical cord and reverse it, the side connected to preamp initially now connected to the power supply unit and vice versa. Bingo! Everything lights up and the Cab started to sing (including myself ^_^). Anyway, still have two minor issues that I need to solve them with Mick when he is back to work.
Cheers,
Kenji |
Thanks Ethifi for the advice. There are only two toggle swictches on top of my Cabernet, one is HT bypass and the other is Mute. I did not ask for a Tape Loop in my preamp. Everything is working fine now and the sound was "Amazingly Satisfying & Musical" straight out of the box with stock tubes. The Cabernet is paired with my Plinius SA-102 poweramp driving the Harbeth M20 mini monitors.
I plugged in the smoke glass Genalux KT-66 to my Cabernet power supply unit yesterday evening..replacing the stock Sovtek tubes only, all I could say what Ecclectique said was true, I was very near to nirvana now! After 300 hours or so I will try those NU 350A's. I guess that's it, audio nirvana is reachable through Supratek for common folks like me ^_^. And thank you Slowhand for starting this wonderful thread. You have earned a place in Audigon, Sir! |
I meant NU 350B's, not NU 350A's in my post above.
Cheers,
Kenji |
Slowhand, the number is correct. I called Mick on Tuesday without any problem.
Kenji |
Mondie, the Genalex KT-66 tubes are hard to get nowadays especially the smoke glass version. I got a matched pair (through a friend) for about three hundred bucks. They sound sweet and warm with powerful bass.
Kenji |
Aurel, I am happy with the Plinius + Supratek combo. The Mute function of the power amp is a must before turning on/off the Supratek preamp. The Mute really "kills" the output of the power amp, so don't worry.
Kenji |
Aurel, I just checked with Mick on muting the preamp and his reply was, "The mute at front of preamp doesn't, but the HT bypass does- just put the switch to "HT" position and the pre is completely isolated from the power amp for turn on/off."
I hope that this helps.
Kenji |
Hi Gang, I changed the stock 6SN7's in my Cabernet yesterday with CV 1988 (6SN7 GTY) tubes. All I can say is WOW ! I have yet to change the Genalux KT 66 to NU 350B even though the 350B's are lying next to the preamp. Maybe I am too patient according to my buddy but that is the fun part of it. The 350B's are kinda like forbidden fruit....OK, back to listening to music again!
BTW, the stock TJ PX4 tubes are really really transparent!
Cheers,
Kenji |
Jazzdude,
I had tried comparing my passive preamp vs.connecting the CD player directly to the poweramp. Both setups were very transparent but the CD direct setup had a slight edge over the passive pre. When the Cabernet was in the chain, I did not feel any loss of details and it was as transparent as the CD direct setup, but the good part was it sounded like a super passive pre with steroid (and lots of PRAT, too).
BTW, I am using APL SACD-1000 as my source.
As far as my listening experince goes, I am listening to MUSIC now. The Cabernet really brings out the emotion of a well recorded CD. Too bad the PX4 could not be replaced but look at the brigther side, you save more money to buy CDs. I did ask Mick to change my power unit to accept 300B's as well. Mick said the 300B's only give you a different sound and not necessary "better". Ask the Man if you would like to know more. All in all I'm happy with the TJPX4 tubes that I bought a backup pair recenlty.
Cheers,
Kenji |
Jazzdude - My goal is to have a system that is as transparent as possible, wide & deep soundstage and with lots of air. Neutrality is subjective and I'm not going into that. So far my current setup has met these requirements. BTW, I'm glad we have the same findings.
Cheers,
Kenji |
Outlier, the setup looks real cool and sexy! I wish I could do that to my Cabernet. Too bad I live in an active seismic zone....:(
Mick did some wonderful things to my Cabernet - now it is even more quiet and transparent than before. Write to the Man if you want to know more since I'm not a techie.
Kenji |
Zachzdb, I wrote to Mick last week to ask about his DAC. He said this baby would be ready for shipping later this year. I did not ask how much but someone in this thread mentioned ~USD500. Anyway, below is the extracted from Mick's email:
"We've got a good DAC, but it doesn't sound like SACD- it sounds like vinyl!"
kenji |
I have the Cabernet for about five months now and yesterday I finally unplugged the 6f6g's and put in the 350B's. (I have been resisting the temptation until yesterday - after a bottle of Cabernet Sauvignon^_^). The 350B's brought the sonic performance to another level, or I should say several levels up. Now I am wondering what would happen when the tubes arrive that magical 300-hour mark?
Cheers,
Kenji |
Ecclectique, mine is a Cabernet with PX4/300B option. IMHO, the PX4 tubes sound better to my ears than the 300Bs. The 300Bs give a stronger bass but this is a bit excessive in my small listening room. Both the PX4 and 300B tubes are manufactured by TJ. TJ also came out a PX25/5V version recently that can be a direct replacement for 300B tubes. It has the same sound as their PX4's but cost more. Nontheless, the look of the TJ PX25/5V tubes is pretty nice. |
Hi Gang,
I have been away for a while but come back to read the threads every now and then. Congratulations to Jtgosifh for your new toy! Does your Cabernet has any microphonic issue? I am asking this as mine is too sensitive - it picks up my voice if I speak a little bit louder in my listening room if there is no disc is spinning. During loud passage that ended abrutly, I still could hear the the sound being "sustained" through microphonic effect. I have tried tube rings, isolation pad, and everything that you can imagine but in vain. Not that I do not enjoy the music coming out from this pre-amp but the microphonic issue keeps bothering me. Other than that this is a fabulous pre-amp.
Kenji |
JT,
My power supply is okay. I like the sound of the PX4 tubes more than 300B so I did not do any 300B tube rolling even though Cabernet has this option. I tried TJ 300B once but the bass was too much for my ears and switched back PX4 tubes.
Kenji |
JT,
TJ also makes PX25/5V (5 Volt version)tubes that can replace 300B's. The look is awesome but I have yet to try them. The tubes that I'm listening to right now are Sovtek 5AR4 x 1, Sylvania 6f6g x 2, EH6SN7 x 2 and TJ PX4 x 2. If I would like to pamper myself, I would plug in my collection of NU350B's, Mullard GZ34's and CV1988's. YMMV.
Kenji |
My Cabernet second-hand value just "depriciated" another $1K due the new double 6SN7 design...sigh! >_<
Kenji |
Steven1960, mine only accepts PX4/300B's tubes. Not 101D. I guess this does not make the Cabernet look sexy...
I still couldn't get rid of the microphonic issue, could it be my listening room is too small? The pre-amp actually picks up my voice when the disc is not spinning.
Kenji |
Steve, even with all stock tubes, the microphonic issue is still bothering me. May be is the casing or inadequate damping. I had tried all sorts all isolation methods but failed. I am going to move to a bigger listening room to try it out.
Kgturner, Mick switched to PX4 tubes when he was making mine in December 2004. PX4 tubes were superior to 101D according to him. I like the PX4 sound pretty much. Later I sent it back for "upgrading" to accept 300B tubes as well. So far I prefer the PX4. |
