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Slowhand,
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Now look for some Philips Miniwatt GZ34's and EL37's and a pair of reasonably priced WE 350b's and you are set for the line stage.
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On deck is some work on the phono stage if you have an interest.
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From what I have been told, you are in for more than a treat with Mick's latest iteration of the Cortese. It is supposed to be quite an upgrade even from the earlier Cortese models.
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Let us all know how you fare with your tube rolling and eventually when your Cortese arrives.
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Rgds, Larry
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Mondie,
PX4 tubes are normally for power amps whereas 101D are typically used on pre-amps. 101D is very microphonic and hard to obtain. According to Mick, he has found a way of using the PX4 to transfer the sound from 6NS7 with perfection (very stable and great-sounding, too!). See the link below for a blow-up PX4! Cheers, Kenji
www.diyhifisupply.com/tubes/px4-mesh-large.jpg |
Hi Gang,
I spoke to Mick and he personally prefers the 6SN7 setup in the Cortese so I am going to stick with that. I have 2 pr. of Tung Sol round plates and some other 6SN7's that I will use in the Cortese when I get it. |
I bought mine used off Audiogon a couple weeks ago. The seller lived near a radio tower and could not stop it from picking up interference. I think it was only a couple of weeks old when he sold it. I had no idea it was set up for 6sn7's, so I was thrilled when I got it. After owning sevreral MFA products and my previous 2 Suprtatek preamps, I have accumulated almost all forms of 6sn7 tubes. TJ Mesh has a picture tour to show there facility, definitely a mom and pop(and daughter) operation. They seem very committed to making great tubes and the PX4 is one of there new designs. |
Thanks guys, your making me really anxious to get my hands on this pre! Does anyone have info on the new and mysterious PX4? l must admit to being a valve gumby. Are these things a variation on the 101d's or a different family all together? Not many on ebay so l am guessing they are pretty uncommon, they certainly look huge, wont need lights in the listening room by the looks of it.
Cheers |
Hi Harry,
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How long ago did you receive your Cabernet ?
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Kenji ans Simon,
I think you will be thrilled with this pre. I have had the Syrah, the Cortese, and now the Cabernet, and this is Mick's best work yet. Mine is set up for 6sn7's and the round plate, black glass Tungsols sound the best( big news there). It is just a little better in every parameter. Bass is more tuneful,stronger and faster. Mids are VERY pure, and the top end is just like the rest of the supratek pre's, superb. The soundstage is what octal tubes do best, no real pinpoint images here, but a well defined stage with great depth, even at the outsides. The new px4 tube will probably out live us all, and do have a nice glow to them. These preamps are just plain fun to own, not to mention the fraternity of owners. I think you will enjoy your purchase. |
Mondie,
I hope you'll receive the Cab next week! Mine will be shipped just before X'mas (if according to schedule). I hope the stock tubes are good as tube rolling is not really my cup of tea. I want to spend more time enjoying music. Of course, this will change if someone can tell me there are killer tubes out there for the Cab...:-))
I will pair the Cabernet with Plinius SA-102. Source front is a Wadia WT3200 transport + Electrompanient ECD-1 DAC and a Sony SCD-XA777ES. I am using the SA-102 to drive a pair of ATC-50PSL (passive) speakers.
Cheers, Kenji |
Me? I'm still waiting for my Chenin. Up to 7 months as of 10/29. Ordered on 3/29... |
Well guys, a little bad news. The WE 350b's came today, and shit, one's screwed. So much for that. At least the seller indicated in his ad that he offered money-back if something was wrong with them. I'm going to take them and get them checked before I send them back, just to be sure.
This sucks. The only good thing that happened because of it was that I tried some of my other 6l6 tubes. I put in a set of NOS Sylvania Jan 6l6wgb's, and they sound better than the Tungsols. Go figure.... |
Hi Kenji,
l ordered a Cabernet several months back that is now ready for shipment. In Micks email from last week he said "it is sounding superb- we just had another creative burst with it and it is even more involving". l am guessing my unit will have the PX4's as a shipment of these held up delivery of my amp.
Hopefully next week l will have it.
Cheers Simon |
Hey guys,
I couldn't resist any more and went on to order a Cabernet after reading all threads! By the way, Mick said he was changing from 101D to PX4 tubes in the Cabernet. He claimed that the PX4 was more stabile than 101D. Isn't PX4 meant good for power amps only? Any comments? I only listen to CDs I and I hope this "leap of faith" is justified! Thanks.
Kenji |
Hi Gang. Perhaps I should chime in here regarding the 6J5. The 6j5 is basically 1/2 of a 6sn7, whereby the 6sn7 is a dual triode and has two triode sections and the 6j5 has just one triode section.In the cortese,they both do the same job.For those that are interested,go to my post [ 09-09-04 ] Cello....Tung-sol rounds? It doesn't get any better than that IMO.I had better take this oportunity to thank you for the tape drive you sent me......Thanks again sir, you are a gentleman and a scholar. In my syrah, it inevitably boils down to the "voice" of either the sylvania 6sn7 wgt metal or the tung-sol round. With live jazz in an intimate small club setting or smaller chamber works etc, I love the tung-sol round here. Large classical recordings,or live power rock and blues etc... I prefer the voice of the Slvania metal. An interesting anology here and some food for thought.... To acquire nos sylvania metal based 6sn7 wgt's in a box, typically sells in the $200/pair neighbourhood [if you can find them] whereby the same vintage sylvania 6j5wgt metal with identical single plate construction will typically cost around $25-$30/pair. There are tons of different brands, vintages and flavours of the 6sn7 dual triode, however... for voicing the syrah in my rig,there are only 4 or 5 choices of 6sn7's, albiet all great ones. 1- Sylvania wgt metals, 2-tung sol rounds,3-kenrad blacks,4-rca greyglass gt and 5- the Ge sidegetters. By contast; there are also many choices and flavours of 6j5 as well as substitutes. Because the 6j5 was actually a precurser to the 6sn7, there were many types, from ST bottle shaped 6j5's, metal tube 6j5's, standard glass versions with flat plate construction,round plates and so on. Further more... unlike the 6sn7,there are also substitutes like the 6p5,6c5 and the 7193.To qualify things here gang. I am not saying the 6j5 is better than the 6sn7........just want to make everyone here aware of the options open to them regarding supratek preamps. |
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Slowhand,
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Mine is in the 6sn7 format and it is just wonderful (using Tungsol, Black Glass, Round Plates).
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I just can't imagine with all we do (spend) that it would be worth it to try to save on the tubes at this level.
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Having said that, I have not heard both configurations. You would have to hear both in the same system to be able to discern the real difference.
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I would ask Mick which set up sounds best with the best tubes in place and assuming your budget will allow (even it won't), go for what will be the best sound.
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Thanks for starting all of this for all of us.
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Budget......I don't need no stinking budget !
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Hey Dennis The Menace. I am happy your pleased..They truly are terrific and my definitive tube of choice next to the WE 350b's. Enjoy! Slowhand,email me offline re: tung sol 12b4a's. |
Another question for Cortese owners. Do you prefer the 6sn7 linestage setup or the 6j5 linestage setup? I spoke with Ecclectique and he got his in the 6j5 setup. He feel it sounds great and that the tubes are much less expensive. Any other opinions? |
Longho68,
Thanks for the info on the remote volume. Does anyone know where I can get a pair of Tung Sol 12B4A tubes? |
Remote control is now noise free. I asked Mick about the noise cause by remote and Tape Loop and here is his reply
"I've changed the remote operation so that it is now noise free. The noise only happened when the remote was being used for adjusting sound- there's no sonic degradation at all. The tape loop is now an option. There
seems to be more requirement now for HT bypass than tape loops, but I can still put it on, although you lose 2 sets of inputs.With the tape loop you have 3 inputs (phono,CD,FM) tape record and play, the HT input and 2 sets of outputs.Take out the tapeloop and you have 5 inputs. OR you can have any combination using 8 sets of RCA sockets- you choose." |
got some 6F6Gs and they are AWESOME. thanks Eccl. |
Jphii. hehehehe.....Congrats on finding a pair of the 350b's, a good price to boot. Regarding budgets for audio.... I hear you. Not to worry though,believe me.... investing in WE 350b's will make many traditional investments like real estate, stock market,classic cars,wines etc etc, look silly in very short order. Furthermore,your tungsol 5881's are a simple sell as they are always in demand,the guitar guys love them [for good reason]. There are a whole lot more guitar amps out there than audiophile tube amps. Oh yeah.... Cello words are very true here. Enjoy! |
I hope so, I've got about 20 Tung Sol 5881, and 20 more different brands. I know Cello says that they CAN NOT be beaten. If they are that good, I'm going to get 4 more for my Audio Note.
I am continually amazed that where audio is concerned, budgets just go all to hell! |
I was biding on them too :(, let me know if it was worth (if they are better them typically recommended repleacement Tung Sol 5881) |
Finally! I finally won a set of WE350b's! Now I can see for myself what some of you have been saying about this tube. The last 2 sets on ebay went for $550 & $650, and they are about $800 at Tubeworld, so I feel lucky to have gotten them for FAR less than that. After I get used to them I'll add my opinion to the thread.
Joe |
Amandarae - thanks for your answer. I got an email from Mick yesterday and he said he removed the tape monitor from the Chenin in favour of an HT bypass which he said people preferred. It can be changed with a little soldering!
I did get a manual with my Chenin. On my unit the switch you speak of is marked as "mute" and it does just that. It does not seem to switch in the tape loop even when I put my Merlin battery BAM in there.
Anyone out there with a Chenin and Merlin BAM in the tape loop? I could of course put it in the signal path between Chenin and (wonderful by the way) Granite 861 monos but I prefer the tape loop method.
Thanks, Nick. |
Has anyone recieved a Cortese from Mick recently? I understand that they come with a remote control volume. I am a little concerned with noise interference. Does anyone know what brand of volume control Mick is using now? Has anyone had this problem (my Syrah has a manual volume knob). I hope to be able to keep my Syrah long enough to do a side by side comparison of the two units. I am ordering mine with the 6sn7 based tube compliment. |
Hey slowhand. Congratulations! |
Wowwits! Let us know when it arrives slowhand! |
Slow- kewl. Keep us posted. |
Well guys, looks like I am back in the "waiting pool" with some of the new members of the Supratek club. I have ordered a Cortese from Mick! I do have the advantage of having my Syrah to listen to in the meantime, so the wait won't be near as bad as it was the first time around. I have ordered mine in the beautiful Sheoak wood base with the matte black top (Mick says his personal system is this same finish combo. If you have not seen the Sheoak yet, there is a picture of it at the bottom of the Gallery page on the Supratek website. I spoke to Mick recently and he said the latest phono stage setup for the Cortese is "amazing". I know this won't be a night and day difference between the Syrah and the Cortese, but I am ready to take the next step in the "Preamp of the Century" saga. |
Nickatkins,
Huh? The manual shows the tape loop toggle switch. It is the one (on top of the chassis direcrly in front of the right 6SN7) near the selector switch. Looking at the front away from you is "On" and towards you is "Off". Did you get the manual from Mick? I have the Chenin also and my manual have pictures and each controller are labeled as shown.
Looking at the back of the preamp, moving from right to left, the two sets of RCA outputs are the main outputs. The next row after that is for TAPE (Play) and the next is for TAPE(rec).
If you are in the US, give me your FAX number and I will fax a copy of the image to you.
cheers... |
try on the back of the unit. Or maybe there is no monitor circuit and thus no switch. |
Quick question: does anyone know how the tape loop works on the Chenin? There is no tape monitor switch that I can see, so how does one switch it on and off? Thanks. |
Woohoo, email from Mick leting me know my black/chrome Cabernet is 2 days off finished. Looking forward to recieving it l can tell you. Just hope my power mp is repaired in time!
Cheers |
A little follow-up on my email from Mick. I was looking at systems today, and I took a quick look at Bwhite's. I wanted to see his Cortese agin, to compare it to my "Syrah". Damn if mine doesn't look exactly like his! Except for the tubes, it's a dead ringer. I think I'm going to start calling mine the SyrTese. And I'n still trying to win the damn 350b's. |
Welcome to the club, enjoy! |
I thought I'd better report in.
My Chenin arrived this morning, safe and sound. It took me about 20 mins to unpack and set up, removing my old preamp from the rack first. Sounds sublime already, really looking forward to a marathon session tonight! But I really should go into work about now...;-)
I ordered my Chenin (no mods) on 06/15/04 and I received it on 10/15/04 - 4 months! Original estimate was 6-8 weeks. It took 5 days to get to me from Mick. I have to tell you I had an "interesting" experience with customs as Mick didn't supply my social security number on the packing slip -- I don't think he ever asked for it. Advice to you all: make sure he gets your SSN (or your country's equivalent) before he ships! If you're already an importer and have an "Importer ID" give him that. I was lucky with only 1 day delay because I called FedEx immediately I saw the "Regulatory agency clearance delay" comment in the tracking record. Your mileage may vary if you get stuck in customs -- I think I got off quite lightly. Just something to be aware of to all you future Supratekkies!
Anyway, I'm happy, it was worth the wait for sure. Now to look for a good turntable...;-)
Happy listening to you all! |
Yeah, some war.... I've got to hand it to Fatparrot for taking this dim witt to task and telling like it is. His last response is bang on the bullseye, blunt, to the point and very well written I might add. Well said Fatparrot. |
And this thread was almost up where someone could see my post until the "war" between Didactically & Fatparrot escalated. |
I still haven't had a chance to get some pics up, but I did email Mick about my tube layout. I said: I bought Syrah serial #119 about a year ago. I have a question. All of the Syrahs I see on Audiogon & Audio Asylum have only the rectifier in the power supply. Mine has both the regulators & rectifier on the power supply. Was this an unusual configuration? #119 was built in July 2001, as per your initials on the bottom of the PS. It is Jarrah & copper. I am hoping you can tell me whats up with mine. He replied: Hi Joe
That one was a sort of early Cortese- it ended up being completely different , but some good things came out of that one.
MickM I guess I made out a lot better than I thought I did! All I know is: This piece brings me almost as much enjoyment as my Teres. And since it helps me enjoy my Teres even more, it will be here for a long time. Now, if you people would stop killing me with the WE350b's on ebay, I'd REALLY be happy! Joe |
for your respose. Well looking forward to the Chardonnay. I should have it in about 6 to 8 weeks. I do plan to use the stock tubes at least for a month or so before doing any kind of tube rolling.
Regards,
Jay |
I'll get a couple of pics up tonight so you all can see my Syrah. It must have been a custom deal, because I have all three on the power supply. Guess it's time to email Mick.
Joe |
Jphii, the Syrah, Chardonnay and Chenin have a rectifier on the power supply & that's it, no regulators.
When I first saw Grannyring's pre, I thought it might be a Cortese power supply hooked to a Syrah - but Grannyring informed me otherwise.
I don't know the history of that unit - Mick might. |
Ok, a bit of a strange question. Does the Syrah PS only have a rectifier, or the rectifier/regulator combo? Every picture I've seen shows only the rectifier. Mine has all three, like the Cortese. But, Grannyring posted under Bwhite's system: I just purchased Syrah pre with the same power supply as the Cortese - one of a kind according to Supratek. So, what tube configuration does your PS have? I thought I'd get a little more info before I emailed Mick, and held up production for those of you waiting for your units! |
I am using the Tungsol Round Plates Black Glass VT-231 as well on my Chenin. I stock up with several pairs because I noticed that the price of them tubes increases everytime I check them. I tried Kenrads, Sylvania, RCA, etc. recommended here by others but the Tungsol is the clear winner in my system.
I bought a pair recently which tested at 85 to 90% of NOS (~2100 to 2200 per side tested on my calibrated Hickok 6000A)and been running it for a month now. Last night out of curiosity, I re-tested the tubes again to see if they degrade somehow (the preamp does its job at about 4 hours a day minimum). What do you know, still very close if not the same to the original reading I got as per notes on my tube notebook dated last week of July! Not gassy, and life test is perfect(you can do this on the 6000A).
My point is that if you can find a pair that tested (very important)and is at least 80% of NOS (2500 micro-mhos on Hickok 6000A as a reference)
and cost reasonably lower than NOS ($225 last time I look)then you can save some money........................ for the WE350B in the future. |
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Yes, any of the Supratek pre-amps will get much better with several hours of break in. The tubes themselves also need break-in.
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You will probably hear improvements from 100-200 hours of use. Easiest method would be to run your CD player 24/7 on repeat at low volume for a week.
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The best 6SN7's for my system by far have clearly been the NOS Tungsol, Black Glass, Round Plates.
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Do let the Supratek fully break in and do about a month's worth of listening before you start rolling tubes. You will learn a ton this way and end up enjoying the process a great deal more.
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Congratulations on a great decision - you will just love the Supratek.
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Rgds, Larry
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I have just ordered the Chardonnay and was wondering if it requires a burn in period or would it be good straight of the bat.
Also in the earlier threads there is a lot of talk about the Ken Rad, Sylvania and Tung Sol VT-231 etc.
The more recent threads talk more of the GE 6SN7GTB
What do you guys recommend now.
Thanks,Jay |
Ecclectique - to break in the Bendix, I ran my Cortese power supply 24/7 for about a month without turning it off except to re-connect the Preamp for listening sessions.
At first the Bendix seemed almost out of phase and disorienting. I hated that tube. But.... once broken in its pretty amazing. I need to pick up a few more.
The only nit about the Bendix is how long it takes to heat up. |
Hi Gang. Yeah, the WE 350b's are certainly "crazy money" for use as regulatory duty... however... nothing else even comes close in my rig. Hey Bryan...glad to hear you gave the bendix the run-in time it requires, it is imperative with most any new tube, and even more so with full wave restifiers. One more extremely important parameter regarding full wave rectifiers... is that each side of rectifier must test indentical to the other side { or no less than 2 or 3% of each other} and at least 95% of a new one. I consider the bendix 6106 as the best of the bunch in both the Syrah and the cortese in my rig with the gz34 coming a close second. Cheers Gang |
Cello - Thanks for the info. I've purchased many tubes from Brendan - including the Bendix I use now. I'll give the Mullard metal base GZ34 another try with the 350B's as soon as I can find one. Unfortunately, last time the metal base GZ34 didn't do it for me. I presume that some of these NOS tubes are actually NOS (believe it or not) and they need break-in just like everything else. The change to the Bendix over break-in was dramatic. Maybe my old GZ34 metal base was still trying to break in when I wrote it off. Hmmm.... |
