Well, I have been living with my new SRA iso bases for a few days now and m impressions are as follows.
I liken the sound to a jazz band that has been together for so long that each member knows exactly what the others are about to do next, taking on a very "tight" sound. That is what the iso bases that are under my Cortese and Berning amp sound like. They "tighten" up the music giving bass a very powerful, but controlled sound. Mid-range has a "you are there" feel to it. Vocalists seem to be right in the room with you. Highs sparkle, but are not bright. The sound takes on a more "live" feel to it. A couple of things that I really like is that the soundstage on most recordings seems wider (far beyond the speakers). Depth also improves on some recordings. I have a percussion cd by an artist named Mino Cinelu. This is a great reference cd that I use a lot. With the iso bases I was amazed at the power that the percussion took on. You could not only get a feel for the size of the drums Mino is hitting, but you can get a good idea of the size of the room that the recording took place in. That is really cool! I could go on and on, but I am sure that you get the idea that I love these bases. I highly recommend them for use under the Suprateks. I don't pretend to know how they work, but they DO work. I hope to isolate all of my equipment with the VR3 bases. |
Nice system Slowhand. Yes, Kevin's products have been a Godsend for my system. I balked and agonized for a while over spending so much on the CRAZ Rack. Now that I have, it is one thing I WILL NEVER SELL. I've been fortunate enough to have had some good isolation products/racks in my system or in for review or audition, but his have always come out on top for my tastes and preferences.
How do you like that Granite CDP?
Frank |
I just ordered 1 meter umbilical cord from Revelation Audio at the price of $269 including shipping for my Chardonnay.
For those of you who want a cheap and good solution for vibration control, I can recommend Nordost Pulsar Points for the power supply and preamp. Matches the look of the Supratek very well and provides a nice improvment soundwise. The rubberfeet make it sound bad whatever you put under it. |
Hello Frank,
I have to agree with you on the SRA bases. I trust Kevin and his excellent designs. I too will leave well enough alone with my SRA bases. I have learned to trust Mick with his tube choices in the Supratek preamp also. I am done with tube rolling. I am having too much fun listening to music now. |
Price gone up so fast! Isn't coincidental when someone is starting to promote the cables? That's why I love Mick... he sticks to the same price for years. After clarifying with Brad from Revelation Audio Labs, $169 was the previous, introductory price. Also, the conductor gauge used is much heavier than the "regular" 3-pin umbilical, hence the raw materials cost is higher for the Supratek cable. The price ($199 for 0.5m and $229 for 1m) includes free Global Express Mail (EMS) shipping. I have ordered a cable. |
Thanks Larry. I'm glad you are getting good results with your combination. In my case, I know this may be sacrilege, but I am completely happy with my sound right now (I know, I know, like our Michigan weather, if I wait 10 minutes that can change) so if it ain't broke . . . .
I have heard good things about the Roller Balls but I bought Kevin's CRAZ Rack so I wouldn't have to deal with pucks and balls etc., and I am lucky enough that I haven't had to. I tried putting a few different things under components on the CRAZ Rack and it always (except in one weird case) made things worse. One time, I had a short in my reference IC between my amp and preamp so I was forced to put in a bright sounding IC I had on hand while it was being repaired. To calm that brightness down I put some Harmonix footers under my Reimyo CDP and it produced the intended effect (toned down the brightness) while my normal IC was out. Then again, this was the rack not an SRA custom made base.
With my Ohio Class bases, nothing has ever helped between the component and the base so I've left well enough alone. I guess we all love to tinker but I have now learned my lesson on that front. The way Kevin explained it to me was that something like a roller ball would introduce different degrees of movement antithetical to the objective of the SRA base. In your case, maybe the combination is producing something or acting like a tone control like my Harmonix footer that you like. Hey, if you like it, that's all that matters.
Take care and enjoy that nice TT!!!! |
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Hi Frank,
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Good to hear from you.
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I have had Kevin make up 4 SRA stands specific pieces in my system (even one under my Teres TT). I bought his standard stands and none were Ohio Class.
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Kevin told me specifically that Rollerblocks and other devices were not necessary and most like would detract from the performance of his stands. He told me of several reviewers and other customers who had tried using other products in conjunction with the SRA stands and how they did not help, but actually lessened the performance of his stands.
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Kevin was great to work with and has a great product line that I recommend whole-heartedly. In my system the Rollerblocks have always enhance the sound whether it be with or without KevinÂs stands.
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I would recommend to anyone that they pick a used pair of Rollerblocks (with Tungsten Carbide balls) and try them under each piece of equipment and see what they get. Worse case scenario would be that you turn around and sell them for more or less what you paid, but I am guessing that they will stay with your system and you will buy more sets.
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I have tried a bunch of different Âfeet and interfaces and none came close to Rollerblocks. I have yet to have a friend try them without them going out and buying more sets.
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I will say that I have never tried Rollerblocks under any Ohio Class stands, but I look forward to hearing your results should you decided to try the Rollerblocks.
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I hope that helps.
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Rgds,
Larry
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Larry,
I was wondering if the SRA products you are using with your gear were custom-made (as all SRA products are) for that particular component? I ask because Kevin usually recommends against using aftermarket feet or other isolation type balls under the gear bewteen his product since it may screw up the customed designed isolation properties of his unit.
I have both his Ohio Class bases and his CRAZ Rack and I screwed around using other feet for sh#@ts and giggles and it never helped.
Frank |
Has anyone ever hear a hum emanating from the power supply after extended play time. Sounds like a transformer hum. Not a ground fault problem...nothing from the speakers, just from power supply. |
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. |
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Slowhand,
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Congratulations on getting the SRA's I am sure you will continue to be pleased. Do try to get one set of used Rollerblocks to try in concert with the SRA's.
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I am guessing you would end up paying between $ 250.00 - 275.00 If you do get one, please let us know how it does for you.
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Rgds,
Larry |
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Houstonreef,
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With out a doubt the best system I found was to use Symposium Rollerblocks under both the power supply and the pre-amp boxes.
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You can find used Rollerblocks quite often on Audiogon. Make sure that you get a set with Tungsten Carbide Balls (not Chromium). Having them Cryoed takes them to another level.
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Rgds,
Larry
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I just received my SRA iso bases for my Cortese and it's power supply. I will post my findings in a few days, but what little listening I have done indicate to me that these are some of the best isolation devices you will ever find! |
What do you recommend vibration control (metal or rubber)for the pre and power supply? |
Price gone up so fast! Isn't coincidental when someone is starting to promote the cables? That's why I love Mick... he sticks to the same price for years. |
Tuongsy/Tim,
Thanks for the reply. I checked with Brad and the price has gone up to $199 now. |
Is it the cord, or the length of the cord that made the difference?
Don't want to be skeptical here but I want to know if somebody tried a shorter umbilical cord than the stock ones (I believe about 5 feet?) and observed an improvement.
regards |
Colink04
Purchased directly through listing on Audiogon. It is the passage cryosilver .5m. Brad will know exactly what you need. He would have to get the special connector to fit the Supratek.
Tim |
Tim,
Did you buy the umbilical cable directly through the listing on audiogon? Was it the "Passage" cryosilver cable 0.5m in length? |
Larry
In my case the music became much clearer. It's like a thick film was removed. It's crystal clear. Revelation audio lab is listed on Audiogon.
Good luck.
Tim |
Larry,
the contact info for Revelation Audio can be found here:
http://www.revelationaudiolabs.com/contact/index.htm. |
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Tuongsy,
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What types of differences did you hear from using the upgraded umbilical cord ?
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Do you have a phone number for Revelation Audio Lab ?
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Many Thanks,
Larry
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Just curious...anybody ever do an A-B between a Syrah/Chenin/Cortese and a Hovland HP-100 with MC? How did the Supratek stack up? |
I purchased the upgraded umbilical cord from Brad at Revelation Audio Lab for my Chardonay. The cord totally transformed my Chardonay. I was shocked listening to the level of changes. The best $169 ever spent. |
Anyone else got their Malbec or Mondeuse? |
Powers,
in the price range you ask there is a magnificient CD player: the CEC 51TLXR. Many revievers have it as their personal CD player. It has a last generation DAC and you can use it as a transport only if you want to experiment with outboard DACs. There are several reviews out there, check Stereo Times. |
Allanblissett, thanks for sharing the tip. I'll check my 6NS7's and let you know what happens. |
Hello, Powers,
My experience may be helpful to you. I got my Chenin in early December. It had the stock Sovtek 5AR4. From the recommendations in this thread, I bought the Bendix 6106. Huge improvement. Break in is slow, but not too bad. I later bought a NOS Miniwatt GZ34 (got a good deal, $225). The bass is super deep and tight. But something sounds constrained. It may be break in related, so I'm running it a while to see if it opens up. Then will compare to the Bendix.
Meanwhile, I don't think you can go wrong with the Bendix to start. Slowhand, Ecclectique and the other seasoned tube rollers here have been super helpful and won't steer you wrong. |
I used both the 6106 and the metal base GZ34 in my Syrah. I liked them both, but for the difference in price the 6106 is a bargain compared to the metal base GZ34. I put a 6106 in my Cortese to see how it would sound and after a few minutes it started making some weird sounds so I took it out and put the stock tube back in.
Mick has told me many times that he does not like NOS tubes. He said that the prices people charge and get for them are crazy. The last time I spoke to him about NOS tubes (which was a good while back) he said he was not going to be able to cover damage caused by NOS tubes that are not direct replacements for the stock tubes. |
powers:
i use a bendix 6106 and have verified with mick that it is swapable in the supratek circuit. i haven't heard the phillips metal base so i can't comment on the sound, but the price difference is substantial. $400 for the phillips versus $40 for the bendix. |
Slowhand,
I understand from the thread that a significant difference is heard in the Chardonnay/Syrah when swapping the stock rectifier for something else. The predominant rectifier tube experience is split between the bendix 6106 and the 5AR4. Were to start the tube rolling, with a NOS Philips Miniwatt METAL BASE or a bendix 6106? IMHO the 5AR4 seems more consistent with the Supratek documentation but there are many happy listeners out there with the 6106. I want to first commit to a rectifier and then swap the other tubes out in a systematic fashion. |
IKKyu2,
I found the source of my image drift to the right. I took out the NOS RCAs I have been using, and poped in the stock EH 6sn7s, and imediately everything lined up again.
Dead center, I guess one of the RCAs are a little weeker than the other.
So try a different set of 6sn7, or at least swap them around to see what happens.
AB. |
Ditto Slowhand - Forward - definite difference in dynamics. |
Forward with the rear gain knob 1 notch down from the top. If I switch the toggles next to the 6sn7's to low gain (back) I lose dynamics. |
what position are most people using on the gain switches behind the 6sn7s? (forward or back) |
I am using a Sony SCD-1 with VSEI mods. Sounds great, but still not the equal of my analog setup. I hope to send it in to upgrade the VSEI mods from level 2 to level 5+. |
i'm a big fan of 47 labs gear with my chardonnay. i have a shigaraki transport and dac with a pure power batterly power supply. the transport and dac by themselves are excellent, but with the battery power, it's extraordinary. |
I am currently using the Ayre Cx7e which works well with the Chardonnay - clean and revealing sound. Looking into the Meridian G08 as an upgrade - very musical with a spacious soundstage. Hope this helps. |
Any opinions on a CD player that works well with the Chardonnay in the 2-3 k range?
IÂve read positive reviews on both Lector and Rega products. |
The Cortese is just more resolving. The Cortese sounds better with stock tubes than the Syrah did with NOS tubes. |
How would you compare the sound of the Syrah to the Cortese? |
Before I discovered Supratek, I was using a Audible Illusions 3A preamp. I was a very nice preamp with a good phono section, but not in the same league as my Supratek Syrah, or my Cortese. Glad to see all the new names in the Supratek family. Welcome to the fold.
Paulfobrecht, when I ordered my Cortese, I gave Mick my ss# because some of the people on the thread told me it would help in going through customs. I got some hassles from DHL too. Same deal, wanting "proof" of my ss#. It delayed things for a few days. Once you get your preamp and listen for the first time, you will forget all about any delay in getting it.
Thanks The Chops. Just be sure to get a high quality pair of speakers that will help bring out what the Supratek is capable of.
To all of you that are playing your Suprateks for the first time. Just enjoy for a while. They sound great out of the box, but they will only get better. It takes a minimum of 100 hours for break in. Full break in is probably more like 200 hours. I do not recommend tube rolling until the preamp is through it's break in period. I know tube rolling is fun, so have at it! I did plenty of it with my Syrah, but when I got my Cortese, I stuck with the stock tubes that Mick put in. I loved the way the Cortese sounded with the stock tubes and I just got tired of the price of NOS tubes. I am spending that money on music.
Welcome to the wonderful world of Supratek. |
Well, After further review of reading your posts. I will be ordering up a Chenin, instead of the Chardonnay. I'm a total (two)~channel guy, that just loves vinyl L.p.'s.
I have a pristine collection of over two-thousand records of Jazz/Rock, & I guess I can part with my Jolida JD-9A Phono tube Pre-amp & buy the Chenin. I paid $350.00 for the Jolida last year (brand new) So I'll look at this as an upgrade of sorts. You guys should all work for Mick. Your sales pitches are very good !!!!
Slowhand, What A guy !!! Yes, My Polk Audio Monitor Ten's are out of date. They are around "20" years old. They are a four way floor speaker system, that has a one inch dome tweeter, (two) 5-1/2 Midranges, & a Ten-inch woofer...
They hang from Piano wire up in the corners of my Living room on a 30 degree tilt. It's like having a set of headphones on with out the feeling on your head.. Hmmmm!!!
The_Chops |
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. |
paul:
i had no custom issues with my chardonnay or my malbecs, but i also gave mick my SSN before shipment. |
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Colink04,
Thanks. What a wonderful community. It is nice to see all of the enthusiasm, exploration, and sharing of ideas. I have always had a place in my heart for tubes but have been on sabbatical (kids, work.. etc) from the hobby/passion for sometime. Supratek was a new name for me and I stumble across them (strangely enough) while googling for a tube preamp with HT bypass. At first sight, I was quite enamored by the form, style and grace of the Supratek product line and, after reading this tread, was pushed (maybe a leap of faith) to buy a yet un-auditioned preamp from a distant time zone.
So here I am with a new Chardonnay, patently waiting for the burn-in and perhaps going through a similar process many of you have experienced. As so many on this thread have said...be patient. So I will be patient before touching the rectifier tube:).
One thing is for sure, this Âlooker of a preamp does a great job at differentiating recorded music. There sure is a lot of poorly recorded/produced music out there! I'm wondering what impact the mp3 generation will have? I began my journey with the album, then came the promise of CD, and now I have MP3s on my phone music for the masses .
A topic for another thread Alas, this thread is for Supratek and all it captures excitement, fun and exploration. |
Anybody else have Customs issues like this coming into the US?? Is this not the norm? |
IKKyu2, I have noticed the same image problem you mention with my Chardonnay. There do seem to be an emphasis to the right, but the funny thing is that I do not notice it when playing my tuner, just cd. I checked my speaker position, but that was not it, so I have been thinking it was my Jolida 100a.
Maybe some adjustment is needed inside, I did see two adjustable pots on the inside when I opened it. Maybe someone can say what they are. |
Powers,
Welcome to the club. I'm a relatively new Chardonnay owner myself (since Sept 2006), and yes, the sound will get better and better with burn-in. Give it at least 200 hrs before you start tube rolling. I have since swapped out the stock 5881s for 6F6Gs recommended by ecclectique (thanks, bro') The Chardonnay is such a revealing preamp it will amaze you when you start rolling tubes. Have fun! |
