Preamp Deal of the Century

lrsky:

i own a supratek chardonnay and love it. from what i understand above service is that mick sends all the necessary information to a technician in the united states who does the work. there is no requirement of sending it all the way back to australia for repairs. mick states this about repairs on his website:

Q: What happens if something goes wrong?

A: It shouldn't but if it does getting it sorted takes priority - the best way is to get it fixed in your home state- while Supratek products are unique they aren't complex and any good technician should be able to solve any problems. With email I can send circuit diagrams and discuss any problems with the technician. The robustness of all Supratek products means that any problems will be minor. I am setting up a circle of good technicians around the globe as I'm able. Naturally I pay for any repairs.

If you want one and can afford it, they you wait. Potential customers know this when they enter into an agreement with Mick and we don't need your commentary because nobody cares what you think.

Quite frankly, I would have waited twice the time I actually did, having heard mine now for 6 months.

Lrsky, here's some advice, order one and wait like everybody else or shut up.

Do you own a Supratek TVAD? I didn't think so. Unless you have something more meaningful and pertinent to the Supratek discussion your comments are devoid of substance and merit.

The Grange digs much deeper into the music than the Rhea. In addition to Mundorf caps, I've rolled all of the tubes in the preamp and its' power supply. It is the finest piece of audio gear I've owned and/or heard in 40+ years.

Other components, Nottingham Space Deck, Hadcock 242 Silver, Zyx Airy 3 LO SB, Extremephono Limited Edition Phono Cable, Oracle CD-1000, Reimyo DAP-777, Stealth Sextet, Canary CA-339 mono blocks, Silverline Grande La Folia, Zu Varial, and Zu Ibis.

I hope that helps.

Yeah I forgot a couple things. I use an Audience adeptResponse conditioner. I've tried dozens of cords (literally) and I've sold off all of the super premium high price power cords and now use Zu Mother on everything. They may not be the absolute best power cord on the market but at the price, IMO, there is nothing close. Lastly, I don't know if the system benefits from all components using the same power cord but it sounds very sweet right now and I don't fix anything when it's not broken. The Zu cables (IC's speaker, and power) represent awesome value IMO.

2" maple platforms on the Grange, Oracle, and Reimyo. 1" granite platforms on the amps. The turntable sits on a Neuance platform, is suspended by chains, and hangs from the ceiling to eliminate all vibration.

Now the Rhea. An an overview I found the Rhea a little dark. Even with some tube rolling it was never particularly dynamic and didn't image nearly as well as the Grange. Lastly, the Grange separates the instruments better than the Rhea. In jazz trios and quartets, each instrument is more clearly defined and articulated. The Grange is so musical it's scary. These words may not mean to you what I am trying to describe but it's the best I can do here. To be fair, I ran the Rhea through a Pass 2.5 so take this comparison FWIW. OTOH you can't beat the Rhea and Pass 2.5 for flexibility. They really are delights for couch potatoes.

Wc65mustang you must be proud of that setup! I for one, and I would think many others would love to see all the pictures you have of your system and its environmental surroundings.Tom

Well after an 11 month wait, DHL confirms that my Cabernet will be delivered tomorrow. I am, of course very excited, but was wondering what users think of breaking in with the supplied tubes or up grading right away to EML 45 mesh tubes. Any thoughts on what to expect in the first few months of breaking in would be greatly appreceiated.

Hi Larry. Congrats on the supratek. Like any new gear,it will take a good 40 to 50 hours of run-in time to settle in and find it's voice.The suprateks sound great right out of the box but it's pretty neat to hear the metamorphosis.Most new tubes need a day or so to settle in anyway.A few of the gang here have rolled in the EML 45 meshies and will hopefully chime in.

Thank you Ecclectique, I thought with over 2000 hits, I'd have a few more people wanting to share their experience. I decided on a Supratek only after being hooked on this thread. But, alas, I will be at home enjoying a Cabernet, so what could be so bad!

Hello Larryrosen,

You will be glad you hung in there and waited for the Supratek. I have been busy listening to my new Cortese. I have not done any tube rolling yet. I want to wait until the pre has plenty of hours on it. I am amazed how good it sounds with the stock tubes! Enjoy that new Cabernet, and let us know your impressions.

Larry,
Congrats. You're in for a real treat. I'm sure you'll find the wait worthwhile. FWIW, I've ordered a pair of custom Merlots; the tentative completion date is 12/2006 so don't feel too bad.

Hey,,,Congrats on recieving your new Cortese!!What preamp did it replace?

Mustang,I just got off the Supratek website to check out the Merlots,they do look pretty amazing!!!Finaly getting someone on this thread that has a Supratek poweramp!Is one year the normal wait,or because you ordered "custom"? Ray

It's a year wait for 2 reasons. First he is way behind on the preamp orders. Big surprise there huh? Second, it will be a custom one of a kind pair. Special transformers and more. He wasn't going to build them at all until we agreed on a year and if it takes longer no big shake.

Thanks all, the Cabernet will replace a Conrad Johnson Premier 10.

Wc65mustang, I was thinking also on the Merlots to pair it with my Cabernet. Could you explain a little more about the mods that you asked for and why?. Thanks

I'll email you outside of the thread

I have my new Cabernet home and running, Stunning box, rigged with the large 300b mesh plate tubes, sounds great now, and I now it will only get sweeter. Fantastic imaging and liquid mid's with spatial detail that is great. One, thing, the unit is quite microphonic. Anyone have that problem and know what may cause this? What is a solution?

Thanks

Hello Larryrosen,

Do you have the stock tubes in your Cabernet? I have found my Cortese to be dead quiet with the stock tubes in it. No microphonics like my Syrah had. I have not done any tube rolling yet.

yes, except the Cabernet is being sent with a set of 300b mesh plates.

With microphonics, I find it is dependent on what output tubes are being used. I have a Supratek Grange and it is highly microphonic with EH 300B's, but there is zero microphonics when Raytheon 45 tubes are used.

I don't get too hung up about microphonics, sure it makes a sound when you rap the chassis, but I don't think it affects the sound when your are in the listening seat.

Mustang: I have a set of Supratek Merlot monobloc power amps. They are superb world class amplifiers, very refined and are tonally almost perfect with strong tight bass, so long as you have sensitive speakers to do them justice.

Regards,

Steve.

My Chenin is at my vacation house and I can't remember if they accept XLR connection? Can anyone please tell me so I don't waste my money on wire that doesn't (or maybe does) work? Bob

baranyi:

unless you custom ordered it with xlr, the chenin does not have xlr connections.

Thanks KGturner...I did not order it that way. Bob

I have question to Chenin owners regarding phono input.
When I switch input selector to phono, there is very loud tape hiss through speakers.
Is it normal ? Or my Chenin is broken ?
I do not have LP right now, but will in the future.
How can one use lp with such loud tape hiss.
It is pretty loud in 9 o'clock position.

Do you have the gain switches on the top of the unit set to the high gain setting? What about the master gain on the rear panel, where is that set? Is the cart you are using of relatively high output (say- above .9mV or more)?

Do you have this hiss or tube rush on any other inputs?

Mine did the same thing until I hooked up a TT. After hooking up a TT it should quiet down. Maybe something to do with ground?

Gain switch is set to second to max.
>Is the cart you are using of relatively high output (say- above .9mV or more)?

Changing cartridge load switch make tape hiss to disappear.
But on max 47k I believe tape hiss is really loud.

I do not have lp yet so I do not have any cartridge.
Just switching to phone is giving me loud tape hiss what worries me.
On line level inputs Chenin is quiet .
> Maybe something to do with ground?
I tried to ground it but it has given me additional loud hum.

I think Braro has nailed it. I assume that you are saying there is nothing connected to the phono input at this point? if so, the noise you are hearing is probably a ground issue due to the high gain at the phono input.
To test this, connect a set of IC's to the phono input and switch to the phono setting, you should hear less hiss, but some may still be present without a load on that input.

I did test with IC's to no avail.
There is hum too.
I can hear my power supply hum (not that loud), but Clayton monoblocks (they have 1kV transformers) are dead quiet.
So I understand that somebody with quiet Chenin phono, after disconnecting LP from it will have a lot of tape hiss noise, like me ? Is that right ?

That has been my experience with my Chenin. When selector is in phono position with TT hooked up and grounded - dead quiet. When selector is in phono position and no TT hooked up - hum and some hiss.

it's a weight load off my mind ..
thanks

These Mundorf caps most be coming around. The past few days I have heard a marked improvement in the sound of my Cortese.

Hi Tom. I am not at all surprised.Like the majority of oil filled capacitors, the mundorf supremes take a couple of hundred hours to fully open up. In particular, the bass frequencies takes the most time. If you want to speed up the process... run a cd on repeat when your not listening to your rig [just leave your amp turned off]

Hi Guys, I just wanted to wish everyone on the thread a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. I wanted to thank everyone for contributing the this thread and for spreading the word about Supratek!

Slowhand,
Here here!!! or should I say hear hear!!

Merry Christmas and happy new year from Italy to everyone on this great thread.

Sandro- happy owner of the only one Cortese in Italy

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Merry Christmas and Happy Holidays Guys.....
.
Rgds,
Larry
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anybody else having trouble with the supratek website? i tried emailing mick, but my email just bounced back. hopefully he's updating his site as it's definitely due for an update.

I am also having problems. I am also seriously considering a blind purchase as I am in the market for a preamp to use with the Merlin TSM-MX Speakers - has anyone used one of these amps with Merlins?

vicks7:

according to a system search, nickatkins uses merlin speakers and a supratek chenin preamp. i'm sure you could email him and ask any questions you have regarding this combo.

Mick is probably updating his site. Maybe he is updating the site with regards to the new amp he is working on.

Kgturner: many thanks.

I use my Supratek with my Merlin VSM. It's not exactly the same as the TSM (which I've also owned), but I will say that I enjoy the combo immensely.

Do any of you guys have the LP Soular Energy by Ray Brown on Pure Audiophile label? I got it for Christmas. WOW! this thing will test the limits of your system. The LP sounds fantastic! Some of the bass notes from Browns bass shake the whole house! I do experience some mistracking because of all the energy on the LP. I am tracking my ZYX Yatra at 1.95gm which is fine on my other LP's, but not on this torture test. If you run analog and don't have this LP, I highly recommend it.

Hi Slowhand,

try the Cartridgemans Isolator, I never knew how good my Syrahs phono stage was till I installed this thing.
I've never had any problems with my Airy 11 at 1.91 gms but with this thing installed, it will track anything without complaint or any sign of strain.
Rgds Si