Khrys...Merry Christmas, I hope all is going well for you this time of year... |
Hello Amandarae, I put an order in for a syrah on december 21 2003... No word yet. I have faith in the man... Cool out...It will arrive... Soon! |
I just put an order in for a syrah pre...Purely on the faith of complete strangers that bought one...Funny thing, I have never felt so at ease and comfortable with a purchase like this in my life... |
ASA... I found khrys comments hilarious,especially the one to Bwhite... khrys claims?? he is independently wealthy from internet hyped factory direct products...Hyped internet products/mail order/ infomercial marketing tactics ...He thinks that is at work here!!! Well, my guess khrys was recently dumped , is alone during Christmas and is generally mad at the world...Anyway ,i am sure looking forward to my recent order of a syrah pre... |
WalterSalas...And a Merry Christmas to you.Walter I was being alittle factitious with my comment about beleiving all these strangers...How would you possibly know?.On a lighter note...Thank you for pointing out that you and others have also abandoned your discernment over choosing a supratek product...I was scared and up set for alittle while thinking that i was the only one...You cant beat word of mouth advertising like this...Mick...you...me... we all benifit |
Khrys...I will admit, at times in my life i have had fellings of insecurity and confusion... Other times i have strung human ears on a boot laces to validate numbers... You have been a laugh... Its time to move on... |
Tubegroover...Having just ordered a syrah pre... Mick tells me his start to finish time on the syrah is down to 5 to 6 weeks... I let Mick know that it wouldnt be an issue if it went beyond 6 weeks... keep happy and unrushed building mine...Tubegroover, you have a eloquent way of getting a point across , hopefully any new commer will read your great comments of 12-31-03...To all,health and happyness for 2004... |
Jim2...Did you and Tubegroover get a chance to hookup and compare the joule pre./amp. and the syrah / berning with your merlins?...If you did, i sure would be interested to read what you two experienced...Thanks for your time... |
Tubegroover...I have heard David Bernings zh270 driving my aged quad 63s, alittle while ago...My goodness. Mick Maloney and David Berning certainly have alot in common... Design build, direct sales, extraordinary performance and value in their electronics.Wading through the discussion forums the past few months in audiogon, I have gained a new perspective on this thrilling hobby...More so then what i have gotten out of any other source in the past.Finally,I would like to thank all on this thread for their endeavor and expense in finding ways of enhancement...Tubegroover and Slowhand, look into borrowing a shunyata tiapan a.c.cord to try in your Berning amps... |
I feel like I won an audio lottery of some sort...Finding out last summer about Audiogon... Coming across preamp deal of the century,and especially what Mick had to say on his web site...Many thanks to many audio savvy members...All of this has sent me into a new direction putting a system together,building one around a great preamp instead of a front end...And finally, just learning about Mick installing his upgraded phono section into my Syrah/Chenin has made me SICK with excitment... |
Hello Amandarae,Not yet...I will let you know right away when Mick contacts me... Keep Smiling!!! |
Amandarae,.. 2-3 Weeks...Shiteza...Micks been busy with other projects,anyway,Keep a eye on his web site...
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Hello Amandarae!I am truly happy for you... I have not received my Chenin yet...Oh well,Last contact I had with Mick was April 24th, He told me that it should of been done by now and that he got diverted on building a new amp., to match up with the Chenin/Chardonnay models...As for my pre....Mick said two/four weeks max.Thats fine,To date, the only part of my aged system that is left is my Quad 63s ,My Linn went last week, I am searching out a killer turntable arm and cartridge... The short list for a turntable is Teres, Origin Live, Nottingham,V.P.I...This is alot of fun...The amps are going to be easy... One of Micks or David Bernings... I am moving like a herd of turtles on this new system, perhaps by the end of summer or later my sweety and I will be cutn rugs late into the night...again... |
Just a short comment on the Chenin... I ordered my Chenin in piano black and chrome...Absolutely gorgeous...I have not spent a lot of time with it yet...very busy...Having logged 200 + hours using a vintage Fisher FM 100-B tuner for most of the burn in.I have just begun to swap tubes with n.o.s...One thing for sure that stands out with the Chenin is how unforgiving and revealing it is with what is plugged into it, along with the quality of recordings flowing through it...I like that... This has narrowed my search for a new system,goes something like this...Dynaudio special 25s or Gilmore audio #4,heard the model 2s...God save us...Atmasphere m-60s monos,for sure,VPI Scoutmaster with options,cables ect,hmm Anyway,I started to read preamp deal of the century around #200.It took a while to convince me...Its for real... |
Ecclectique,I just want to pass along a big thank you for your reccommendation of the Sylvania 6F6g.I picked up a pair,as new in original boxes, matched to with in 1 ma.Incredible in my Chenin. It has been a month since they were installed and I still cannot get over what they did for my system. |
HI Jay461,I am using a pair of Sylvania 6SN7W metal base along with the Sylvania 6F6G to stunning effect, yes the metal base 6SN7W are very rare,I have two pair of Tungsol black glass round plates ,one pair as new, never been plugged in yet... There is something going on between the Sylvanias that I like better, I need more time with comparing the Tungsols and the metal base Sylvanias.I am hunting down another pair of Sylvania metal base and will sell my near N.O.S. Tungsols once I find them.The tube store has some Philips mini watts non metal base for your p.s. if you are interseted. |
Ecclectique and Amandarae,Good to read more about tube switching in the phono section. I just took delivery of a vpi scoutmaster with options afew weeks ago. Shocking good through my Chenin,I have not switched the tubes in the phono section yet.I need some directions finding the Mullard m8080 and the Russian 6n23ev,I appreciate that. |
Amandarae ,Thanks for the info. |
For anyone looking for some 6922 to try in their new pre,I have been getting consistent quality from a seller here on the Gon by the name of Dioto.I have bought a few pairs of Seimans gold pin, Dutch made Amperex bugle boys and Philips miniwatt S.Q.s. All are dead silent and very,very good in my Chinen.Best of all, Toms prices and service are hard to beat...Tubes through out the rest of my pre. R.C.A.6C4s,1958 vintage Dutch made Amperex bugel boy gz-37, Sylvania 6f6g,Sylvania metal base 6sn7w,... nice. The next huge up grade to my modest system is a Nordost Thor distribution block and two of their mid priced a.c. cords for starters ,this could very well be the best thing any one in this hobby could do for their system,I get it this week.... |
Andy of Vintage Tube Services just picked up a load of Sylvania 6F6Gs Last week... |
On the topic of a.c. cords and power conditioners,I recently purchased a Nordost Thor power conditioner and and afew Nordost vishnu a.c. cords.The Nordost stuff was the most expensive of other manufactures that I thought worthy checking out.Nordost was the last of the few I borrowed for in home trials this last fall and during Christmas.I had two brands picked out that I liked in my set up and was planning borrowing them again after the Nordost trial.Most power conditioners and aftermarket a.c. cords all do something good for the equiptment there used in I would think. For me they all worked at lowering the noise floor enabling alittle more realistic flow and snap to music ,very nice indeed.The Nordost stuff was more then I really wanted to spend.A dealer I know was very insistent on me waiting to try the Thor before making a decision.The Thor has Valhalla wire through out and with that stuff I think Nordost understands something about electricity that other manufactures of condtioners and a.c. cords do not....I can tell you this ,you have not heard all of what your system can do, I dont care how long you have had it.Roy Gregory of HI-FI Plus reveiwed the Nordost Thor in issue 35, I am sure you will hear more about this stuff...It is a profound enhancement in my system recipe. |
Hello All, The tube line up in my Chenin is as follows.....Power supply, a superb [well burnt in] 1954 Bendix 6106. Regulators, A very early mirror matched pair of Sylvania 6F6Gs, clear glass ,old style round logo and etched base,very handsome looking .These are one of two pairs of 6F6gs I have.The Bendix and 6f6gs are [outstanding] inexpensive up grades in over all performance of the Chenin.6SN7s,A good pair of Tungsol black glass round plates.For me ,vocals have to sound right.With the Tungsols in place,Ella,Nat Cole,Sarah Vaughn ect.ect.are truly superb.One recent L.P. purchase,Joan Baez,Diamonds and Rust.The recording is one of the top best I have,the vocals captured on this L.P.are truly uncanny.I had a pair of Sylvania tall glass metal base in place afew months ago along with a used Dutch made bugal boy metal base GZ-34.Listening to Rock,Pink Floyd, Yes, The Who ect,I never heard them like this on a two channel system.It was a heavy experience.On Jazz and Folk,it was not as involving as my current choice of tubes .The phono stage,I use a mirror matched pair of 1949 R.C.A. black plate 6C4s and a pair of Philips Miniwatt S.Q. gold pins,the test values on these Miniwatts are outstanding.I did more switching of power supply tubes then any others in my Chenin.For me ,the Bendix is the one.One final note , my pre. is quiet as a church mouse...Love it. |
Hi all, Regarding the Bendix 6106 ,Mick told me about someone that bought a ''dud'' 6106 ,it blew fuses,the guy persisted in using it .Finally it wrecked his pre...I guess that would apply to any rectifier not just the Bendix.A good thing would buy a decent tube tester ,learn how to use it and check the tubes you buy,or send them off to someone that will do this for you. |
The Bendix 6106 is indirectly heated.The 6106 in my p.s.,the lower midrange on down is spectaular.I never heard Pink Floyd,The who ect.like this,accept live.The Bendix is a all around superb rectifier.I do have a matched pair of 1957 N.O.S. metal base Philips Mini GZ-34s. I am going to try,I know I will like...$20.each for early 1950s n.o.s. Bendix 6106s... $229.each for the Philips mini watts.The test values on all the tubes in my pre are outstanding. I am going to put back all the tubes that came with it some weekend just to check out to see if all time and money spent was worth it. B.t.w. the E.H. gold pin 6sn7s are [fabulous]... |
Twenty minutes ago I pulled all the tubes out of my pre and threw it down a flight of stairs.I put the tubes back in ,hooked it back up,[it does not work]??? Can someone please help me...Just kidding...What I like most about my Supra pre purchase, is the price I paid . Hence Slowhands title.A great performing preamp that comes with a phono stage as a gift,and what a phono stage.Who here has spent more only to realize later you ended up with less....Mustang,I have not yet installed the metal base Miniwatt yet.Really looking forward to it.I have afew days coming up were I can lay around and listen all I want. |
Hi 65Mustang,The use of the 6F6gs as regulators may have never been known if it was not for Ecclectique bringing it to our attention here some time ago.I love them. When I first read about it I phoned Andy of Vintage Tube Services.I requested the best out of the bunch, he rounded some up and tested them and set aside acouple of nice pairs for me.Both Sylvanias,one pair 1930s N.O.S. matched to with in 2m.a. A secound pair from the 1940s ,carbinizied glass N.O.S.,matched with in 1 m.a.This is critical for the regulators to be matched to get the very best performance, be it these or any others you choose that will work in your Supra pre... Now here is an old radio /juke box tube that will have a major sonic impact on your pre,for very little money.I have seen the 6F6Gs and gts at a vintage radio show for 5 to 8 bucks each,all brands, some N.I.B.s.There are loads of them out there.Mustang,I know Im not telling you anything you dont know already,this may benifit someone else reading this.The power supply tube/s and the regulators have a major sonic impact on how your pre is going to perform...Just make damn sure the power supply tube test values check out.I have afew pair of rare and sought after 6SN7s .They all had their turns in my Chenin ,they were all good .I really had to listen carfully ,switching 6sN7s was nothing like the impact of changing the power supply tube and regulators,not even close.I ended up sitting back and enjoying what I was listening to.Even the new production E.H.6SN7s gold pins sound great,give them 50 plus hours burn in,another inexpensive tube.The phono section I have a pair of mirror matched R.C.A. 6c4s and a small fortune of ecc88/6922s ,Telefunken ,seimans and Philips Mini watt .cca,gold pins and S.Q.s ,only afew that are dead silent phono grade pairs.Buyers beware,looking for top N.O.S. phono grade? good luck.The Philips Miniwatt early 1960s gold pin S.Q.s are[out standing ]and a lot less money,very close in performance to the seimans and Telefunkens.I am very selective who I buy alot of tubes from,Andy of V.T.S. and a seller here on the Gon. from Holland. His user name is Dioto. Tom and Andy are with out dought straight shooters in this game,some of my very best 6922s came from Dioto.Anyway I hope this helps someone and good listening to all. |
The Mighty Grange... 65Mustang I finally clued in...you really are sick.... |
Good catch on that one BWhite... |
Good point Simon,I wonder if Mr.Covi will be moving to the Land Down Under? I would think if anyone sitting on the fence over their first or second Supratek purchase, best decide soon... |
For anyone interested in reading about and having a look at Micks new KT-88 mono blocks, go to his site ... |
Oops,My opology .Its been awhile since ive been on Micks site. I also missed Slowhands and Steven1960 breif discussion on the new amps...Once Mick gets them squared away and up for sale,I will concider them. |
Hi JT and welcome. Have you heard any of Micks amplifiers, even pre production models with his preamps in a system? Any comments would be great... |
Hi Jt, Yes I am particularly interested in Micks KT-88 monos .Mick did such GREAT job on the Chenin I bought from him,these new monos should be a crazy good mate for my preamp. Having just bought a new system last year including a pair of used O.T.L. monos,there is room for improvment and better matching with my pre. This is the second system I have bought since the early 1980s.The only thing left from my first decent stereo is my Quad 63s,some Mod Squad tip toes and some Monster wires. My Wife and I had a great time putting our new system together.We have never heard our favorite music like this in our home.I think Micks new amps will be icing on the cake for us... |
Im getting absolutely incredible performance with the supplied stock tubes, with the exception of a pair of n.o.s. Telefunken Pcc88 in the phono section of my Chenin. Also a recent interconnect change from my V.P.I. termination box to my preamps phono input had a staggering effect.I urge anyone with V.P.I.s new signiture tone arm wired with Nordost Valhalla to try out Nordost new line of the Frey interconnects in this area of your system. I bought one used burt in pair last week . The change to my sytems performance was immediate....I have had my Chenin for two years ,Im just starting to hear what it can really do. |
Hi Markxiii,You may want to try apair of Sylvania 6F6G in the regulator position.These are the two tubes closes to the transformer covers.The power supply tube and the regulator tubes work directly with each other.For now I have switched back to the stock tubes.Though I have used the Bendix 6106 and the 6F6G combo to exceptional results. |
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Hi Artemus, Raytheprinter had the Conrad Johnson Chardonay combo.Rays a good guy and I'm sure he will help you out. Speaking of tubes,the E.H. gold pin 6SN7s and Sovtek KT66 [Thanks Abe] perform very well in my Chenin. As for the rectifier, the stock Sovtek works very well. I have a half dozen metal base Philips Mini and other early production GZ-34s,Telefunken,Siemens,Mullard and Bugal Boy. They all worked very well in my Chenin.However a $20.00 n.o.s. Bendix 6106 will do nicely also..... |
Hi Ikkyu2, Yes ,the Chenin is an incredibly good preamp for the money. The phono stage is the icing on the cake so to speak! I like what the Bendix 6106 does in the lower midrange on down,I have not experienced any cut off in the upper treble from this tube.From new the Bendix takes along time to burn in. Some members here have had problems using the 6106.Test done on my 6106 shows strong values and both sides match the same. A discoloration formed on the getter spot on my Bendix, also on a couple of my metal base GZ-34s. This is normal. However the stock rectifier was in use as much as the others. It does not have any coloration on the getter spot at all. Hmm. |
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Frankiealverti,I would'nt worry about the rest of the tubes lighting up so soon on initial start up using a GZ-34.This is normal operation. The GZ-34 and Bendix 6106 are indirect heated rectifiers. A directly heated rectifier like a 5y3 would eat your tubes up pretty quick on intial start up.Ecclectique has written about this and many other tube types indepth. Overall you will get alot of musical mileage out of your tubes in a Supratek pre,especially agood GZ-34 ,in fact many years. Periodically I test the tubes in all my equiptment. As for the problem you are currently experiancing with your Syrah. I would'nt use it until your tech guy has sorted things out......Artemus5 thread of 12-17-06 here to Amandarae reponse got me thinking about a Chenin owner with a Walker Audio Proscenium Turntable. A bit of a disproportionate gap in cost between the two including the other components and speakers in his system. This is quite the testimony for Micks phono stages and preamps. I'm sure this Walker Procenium owner would not tolerate the Chenin for a minute if it did'nt perform. No dought someday he will move up the Supratek line or to another preamp manufacture.I hope he chimes in. |
Slowhand, What's the price of the SRA series 3 you bought for your Cortese?If you say it has an amazing effect,I,m interested. With all thats on the market most of these isolation devices have subtle to no effect at a high price. Few stand out and work like Symposium Titanium Rollerblocks.Expensive ,but they do work extremely well under some but not all conponents.The expense for a set I can understand why. These Titanium balls are as perfectly round as can be,this is the key.Few millwrights and their machinery can achieve such extreme tolerances.Set up is cridical like any isolating device,you have to experiment to find that sweat spot under your equiptment. Symposiums platform line is also expensive which is not relative to manufacturing costs. Foam sandwiched between aluminum with a nice finish.They work also,for me not at these prices. Start double stacking the Titanium Rollerblocks on these platforms on all your equiptment.It can be a real ear opener in some systems, though at a high price. A friend of mine owns a audio store and has been looking into various new to the market isolation devices from all parts of the world.He's looking for things that acually work . Everything is checked out in his home system . I was in to see him at his store just before Christmas.Right now he is checking out some stuff called Black Raveolli from Germany I believe. Very inexpenive.Four blocks of the stuff for under a 100 bucks.I plan to stop by his home after the new year to check it out in his system and get some for myself.They also make a mat for turntables.Anyway he is AMAZED at what they do for his system and I can tell you the man is not easily impressed.What I know of this stuff it comes from development of isolating nuclear subs. A now declassified material and they will hold alot of weight. When I hook up with him,I will report all the details....Good listening Mark |
Slowhand, You have a good ear. How many hits has this posting got since you started it? ....I'm at a point with my system where some proper isolation should kick it up a notch or two.You and most here know what a thrill it is to discover yet another whole new level of performance that was hidden in your system.My first real eye/ear opener was taking care of the a.c.acouple of years ago.The next HUGE leap were cables.... The only platforms that I have tried under my amps and pre. that worked pretty good were Symposiums top line... Alot of money for some aluminum and foam. More in fact then SRAs platforms. Cello what are your impressions SRAs products? Thank You |
Hi Larry,Definitely I will be in touch with Kevin. I have two sets of Symposium roller blocks,series 2 and the series 3 balls.When first told about the series 3 balls acouple of years ago I scoffed at the cost.BULL SHIT.I borrowed some Symposium platforms including some more series 2 and one set of series 3....S.O.B....Talk about the hair on the nape of your neck. However I couldnt afford the platforms and more rollerblocks at the time,though I did buy one set of the series 3. My stuff is sitting directly on two inch thick Canadian hard rock maple stand and amp platforms. Some fine tuning with more platforms and isolation devices should bring some spooky magic to my system. Thanks guys |
Hi Slowhand and Cello, That hard rock maple alone works very well!I had a local wood mill make my equiptment stand. Its a three shelf butcher block vertical grain slabs 42" wide by 24" deep by 2" thick.The shelves are fixed in place with 1" doweling tapped through 4 by 4 legs.I need to get some adjustable feet for it to finish it off,can't use cones,we have soft wood plank floors.I will be in contact with Kevin in the new year.Slowhand you say it works is good enough for me. Larry thats interesting having the roller blocks cryoed .I bought cryoed bx wire and recepticals for dedicated lines a couple of years ago.Theres something to it alright.I'll let Kevin know you two sent me. Regards Mark |
Hi Slowhand and Cello ,I went through the entire site of Silent Running Audio.It will be a thrill reading your evaluation. You have one for your Berning amp now and two more on order for your Cortese. No dought you plan on getting one for your turntable. I think that is where I am going to start.Cello you have the S.R.A. equiptment rack.Do you also have any of the platforms? Anyway in the next few weeks its sure going to be interesting reading the first impressions of the new Malbecs and a Mondeuse! Good Listening Mark |
Hi Slipknot, Just had a look at your incredible system. There are some changes from the last time I looked. By the sound of it, your Chenin has kepted pace with those changes... If there ever was a testimony for Micks phono stages,this is it... |
I recently realized a significate leap forward in musical performace with my modest system.It really knocked me on my ass. Unknown to me all this time I was not hearing what my system was really capable of directly due to cables in my tone arm and the rest of my system. V.P.I.s new Signature tone arm wired with Nordost Valhalla was the first step to something I was not fully expecting.Not by a long shot. From there it was only logical to carry on with more Nordost wire from my turntable to my Chenin. I bought a used burnt in pair of Nordost Frey interconnects to check out....OH MY GOD....Over the past three years I have tried out many different brands of moderate to expensive interconnects and speaker wire. Looking back, compared to what I have experienced with Nordost, all the others had a out right dismal effect.This tiny fragile signal from my cartridge to the phono stage was distroyed by the other brands of wire. I understand Nordost makes direct replacement wire from their new line including Valhalla for other brands of tonearms other then V.P.I.. This mono filiment wire takes an extraordinary long time to burn in.For those who do not like what Nordost wire does,you have not heard it fully burnt in,thats for sure. Nordost manufatures a cable cooker available to distributors and dealers.It will do tonearm wire, interconnets and speaker wire. Its needed believe me. You really what to find out how good your system is? Look into this..... |
Hi Guys, It could be that Brad is ill or has had a tragedy in his family. Hang in there ,Im shure you will find out soon... |
I once had a louder then normal hum coming from the power supply of my Chenin.I was letting things warm up ,came back into the room. The hum was loud enough that it caught my attention from across the room.First thing I checked was the power and umbilical cords,they were fine.I went about listening to music. I marked it up to fluxuating a.c., a dip in current coming into my house.We have moved since then and I have not experienced this loud hum again. |
Another point I want to bring up regarding a.c. coming into your home.Residential and commercial construction through out North America in the past few years has been incredible. This has put a strain on the grid in some areas resulting in poor supply, inconsistent supply of a.c. to your home. Where we use to live tens of thousands of new homes have been built along with many commercial factorys and business.Moving to another area, far less population, I have noticed consistent performance with my system . Like your vehcile,if its getting proper air density /fuel mixture it will perform at its peak.... |
