I gave my SSN, but they asked for *proof* of the SSN - had to fax them the card. Very strange. Have gotten things from CA, Europe before, no issues.
DHL told me because of the value of the item - over $2K - they could not handle the customs responsibility themselves. All very strange. |
Well - I've ordered a Cortese. Mick had one almost done and I couldn't resist.
What's the hot tube setup for the phono stage? :) |
What is the current ship time to the US (midwest)?
Have been waiting for a week for my Sauvignon to ship now. I'm wondering how long it'll take once it goes. |
I was wondering if I could hear from people who have replaced a TVC linestage with a Supratek and experienced a large increase in dynamics and any other positive effects?
I've been very happy with my TVC but have noted that my system does lack SOTA dynamics. Just not quite there. So, I am looking into active linestages once again and the Supratek gear is high on my list.
Thanks! |
Nobody gonna help me out about the phono tubes? I know I could scour the thread, and I will, eventually.
7308s still the hot ticket for 6922? Amperex?
The other tube in the phono section, 6288 or something, I don't think I'd even heard of. |
Australia to Ohio in two days? Well, that is bloody impressive. |
My Sauv has been in Customs since last Friday (6 days).
DHL called and said because the declared value was >$2K, they could not "vouch" for it and needed proof of my SSN.
I faxed the card on Tuesday with contact info, and today they called and said it was "illegible". I assure you, it was COMPLETELY legible. I still have the fax confirm.
So, it was scanned and emailed today. What a pain in the ass. |
Anybody else have Customs issues like this coming into the US?? Is this not the norm? |
Got my Sauvignon Monday.
Stone stock and brand-new, I'd say it was "30%" or so better than the EE MiniMax it replaced, with main benefits being more air and wider soundstage (this says a hell of a lot for the MM).
Going to a Mullard 5AR4 and Sovtek KT66 regs took it up a level right away!
I have two sets of NOS 6SN7s - one being a $300 set of Popes from Upscale Audio - to try after I let the EH show what they can do for 100 hours or so.
Don't really need to add anything else - build quality is astounding (BIGGER than it looks in pics) and it sure is gorgeous (stainless/sheoak).
This is one piece of gear I think I'll never sell. |
Need to chime in with some feedback about my Sauv after a couple weeks: it is now really showing me what it can do. It is stunning me on everything now. Truly, I have the transparency I had with the TVC with a lot more body and dynamics where it counts. I have several vocal tracks that were my active preamp "torture test" - nothing else ever managed to avoid sounding veiled in comparison to the passive. Not the Sauv. It's just as revealing and better in the other ways mentioned. Still running the EH 6SN7s too. No regrets buying this piece unheard. |
Don't buy a PC - buy a custom power-supply-to-chassis umbilical from Revelation. That's what counts (so I hear). |
I did want something very clean and neutral and the sauv is that. I run Consonance 845 SETs. This is a very nice combo. Soundstage has exploded over the passive TVC and it's still such a clean, transparent sound.
I didn't know the non-dual Cab was still made, though. |
Hear you on that speed! Direct-coupling and short paths is where it's at. I do not know the technical details, but don't really understand why anybody makes non-direct-couple tube linestages as they seem to always have that slow, mushy sound in comparison. |
Had to make a post about the Pope 6SN7s Kevin Deal sold me. Ok, I have not compared them to other NOS tubes yet but they are waay above the EHs. I let the EHs go for 100 hours or so to see what they could do, and of course the unit sounded great with them, but these popes are so much more refined and less "harsh". It is like a new preamp. I was hoping for a little difference but not expecting this. One hour so far, every track sounds better. Smoother... more musical. |
Hey guys, is the Sauv very quiet on high-eff speakers? Would I have any issues with 102dB/W horns? (I have a sauv already; never tried it with speakers like that.)
That's an interesting topic: what speakers are people with these preamps using. Probably all over the map I'd guess.... |
QUESTION: I've got a Sauvignon which I LOVE, but bought without the phono stage (stupidly).
Now, I've finally got the vinyl bug and am at least going to try it out. I was going to start with a Pro-Ject tube box phono stage. Question is: do I REALLY want to think about getting a new Supratek with phono? How much better would a Chardonnay be than a $500 tube MC stage going into my Supratek linestage? |
Oops - I meant Cortese. The diff here (over the Sauv) is $1500 so it is not 'trivial'. I didn't know if I'd ever try vinyl.
Am considering a Pro-ject Tube Box II, perhaps only has a holdover till I order a Cortese.
In Piano Black, of course. |
Yes, considering the Slee.
Jim: I would have been surprised if somebody said the TB could compete with a Supratek phono but what did I know? Well, I know a bit more now. :) (After an all-night crash-course in modern phono stages, that is.)
I may well go with another Supratek, but I like the idea with playing with some other units, and also I still need a temporary solution as those Suprateks, they take awhile, ya know?
Anybody want a nice deal on a 6-month old Sauvignon in Sheoak/stainless shipped from the states with no hassle? It's perfect. I'm not taking more than a $500 hit on that thing, which actually will save somebody more like $700. |
Slowhand,
While the phono stage is a $400 option on the Chenin, it is $1500 on the Sauv/Cortese and a whopping $4000 on the Cab/Grange!
$1500 is not change - though I have no doubts it's well worth it. OTOH, you can buy a Minimax phono for that and many consider that phono stage world-class as well.
The Graham Slee era gold I'm using now is amazing as well. I never thought I could stand op-amps of any form in my system. I don't have a broad reference of phono stages at this point, by any means, but this thing makes astounding music, with a moderate table/cart.
My Sauvignon is sold (I think) but I had to cancel the Cortese I'd ordered a couple weeks ago. Then, I decided to go ahead and try the Dodd battery pre I've been wanting to try for some time - might be just the ticket - though beating a Supratek, if it's possible, sure can't be easy.
I am going to try the Minimax phono in concert with the Dodd. I have great respect for the MM products. I have had a MM CDP in my 2nd system for a couple years and it sounds as good as many $3K players, no doubt.
Anyway, I may end up loving the Dodd & the MM, or I may end up with a Cortese before long.
I do like the flexibility of a separate phono stage. |
Hi guys,
I previously owned a Sauvignon which I loved but sold when I got into vinyl. My listening is now 95% vinyl and I want a new preamp with a world-class phono stage.
I am not sure if I would want to spring for the Cortese or not. The raves over the Chenin are rather impressive. Who has heard both relatively recently and could comment? How much difference is there?
I have heard that the Cortese circuit (linestage part at least) is far more complex. IME, simple circuits with very high quality parts usually do all things well, if noise is kept down.
Noise is paramount as I use 100 dB speakers. Any comments on noise between the two? How about liquidity of midrange - that's probably goal #1.
I would like to read the whole thread but that will take awhile... |
