Should this thread title be updated? After all these preamps came out last century! |
See AudioAsylum for Ken Rads with the Cortese. He might sell you his. They are going to be very difficult to find. |
Tubes for the Syrah. I found the best 6SN7s in the Syrah to be the KenRad VT231s or the old Sylvania brown bases, 6SN7W GTs I believe. The RCA 5692 red bases were terrible. I also found the best regulators were the Sylvania 5932 best. The best rectifier I found was the RCA 5V4 GA. The phono stage tubes give you little choice. The WE 147A versus the Raytheon 5842 is difficult as the first tends to be best if not microphonic, but most are. The choice between Mullard and RCA 6GK5 seems to make little difference. Also many of these tubes are noisy.
Tube rolling with this unit is great fun but expensive. Good luck to you beginning this journey. |
If you can find them, try the Sylvania 5932s. I would say, however, that the Tung Sol 5881 are a close second. What is the rectifier tube now? |
You all know of the big falling out between Peter and Kondo some years ago. I have heard both sides of the story and cannot decide who is at fault if anyone. I am inclined to believe it is language difficulties. At any rate I find both the Kondo M100 and Audio Note M6 preamps outstanding as you might expect given the parts quality that goes into them. Having had a Syrah, I definitely think it is an excellent buy although the H-Cat at $2995 is clearly better. |
As I said before after one channel went out and I had John Tucker repair it, he greatly modified my Syrah. One of the things we did was to replace the inexpensive pot with a stepped attenuator. Since he also made the unit parafeed, put a constant current source on the output tube, and switched to 6N1P from the 6SN7, however, I can tell you little about the benefits of each mod. |
Fiddler, the same thing you said about the H-Cat was said when I got one of the first Syrahs and raved about it. |
From the looks of it the Chardonnay looks to be a Syrah minus the phono stage, which was the best part of the Syrah. |
Having heard Edgar's Chardonnay in his room last summer and having had one of the first Syrahs, I would like to comment on what he and I heard in our two Suprateks. He says, "A mild criticism I had of the Chard (much as I looked for something for crying out loud) was its soundstage, which I found to be marginally narrower and shallower than I was used to from my previous reference preamp." I have not heard the new Sauvignon which he says is far superior, but this is one reason why I abandoned Supratek.
The Exemplar preamps all give a very wide and realistic sound stage. I do not know what is at the base of the Sauvignon's improved performance in this area, but Edgar thinks it is a better power supply. If so, Syrah and Chard users should seriously consider the Sauvignon in my opinion. although it is far more expensive than the Exemplar $2500 line stage.
As I am notorious on another thread for extolling the benefits of the H-Cat solid state preamp, especially it PRECISE sound stage, I naturally would say that it too is a better investment if realism in sound reproduction is your goal. |
To get an inverted signal, you would typically have to put another tube in as each tube inverts the signal. In my experience, the inverted signal would always sound worse. This was true on my Milliennium preamp. |
Judy and mustang, this is really the pot calling the kettle black. Do you guys have an altar with the Supratek on it to which you pray? |
Jazzdude, I don't think we know the real story in this case. I think, however, that we cannot say much about the buyer except that he did not get what he expected. I certainly never saw wiring such as shown in the pictures within my Syrah. |
I just noticed this on AA. http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?aamps&1128830279&read&3&4& |
Whoopadeedoo, before casting aspersions, see what I said there. |
Just thought that I notice that many who post here are still up to their old infamous ways trying to browbeat others to their point of view.
Fiddler, if the shoe fits wear it. |
All I can do is to repeat your statements about me as quite applicable to your actions and postings. It defies imagination that you would complain about anyone other than you and Mustang trying to browbeat others.
Unfortunately, this thread keeps coming up on my threads, so I learned of Judy and Mustangs browbeatings. |
Wow, that hurts, but then I recalled who is posting. |
I guess I am not good at guttural language having sought to elevate my language to be more articulate to help my students. But in reality I tire at seeking to communicate with an idiot. Good day and have a better life. |
Alma, as I said, I will no longer respond to mustang. |
Fiddler, I have heard nothing but praise in replacing existing caps with the V-Caps. Were it not for their cost I would use them. Of course, it is impossible to replace caps within the modules of the H-Cat equipment. |
I posted this on the H-Cat thread.
Fiddler, why the extensive and irrelevant quoting. I find only defensive and substantially illogical arguments in your posting as to why you will not bother to try the unit. Frankly, my dear (sir) I don't give a damn. I don't think many here really care what you think.
Enjoy your Supratek. Having owned one, I know even the very first H-Cat P-12 gave more detail, a substantial better image, more extended highs and lows, and was well assembled. I am still very unhappy with Mich about his not agreeing to pay for his poor quality control. |
Enjoy what you have, I guess. |
Theaudiotweak, knowing what little I do about tube circuits, I think the answer is yes. I guess this most true for a tube where many manufacturers made it, such as the 6SN7, or where there are many close substitutes, such as the 6DJ8. As the old adage goes, at least with tube circuits the customer can chose which tube he wants; in solid state designs he has no choice.
I don't understand why I am being asked this, however. |
I no longer have any need for the various 6SN7 tubes I found. I sold almost all of my tubes to a younger friend. He wondered what use they were. If you are interested in them, email me and I will put you into contact with him. |
