Preamp Deal of the Century

Mick told me that my Malbecs are ready to ship. I ordered them in October. As soon as I have them and a chance to listen to them I'll post my initial impressions. They are good candidates to replace my highly modified Golden Tube 300b Mk I, but let's my ears to decide. Pablo.

Slowhand,What a brute of a c.d. player the SCD1 is.55 lbs? I bought the 777 shortly after they came on the market back in 2000 and had it modded afew years later.The 777 was my first c.d. player ever. It sure was dark days for vinyl back in the 90s .Have you tried rollerblocks under your SCD1? Put them near the transport,its amazing what they do for a c.d. player.....Last time I checked going prices for certain vintage tubes ,I put mine away in a safer place.Back in the 90s the most expensive vintage vacuum tubes I bought was CRAZY money,around $60.00 for a pair of Sylvania metal base 6SN7s.The tube and parts dealer saw me coming. I couldn't tell you what going prices for any of the vintage Western Electric vacuum tubes were going for. Someone mentioned here apair of W.E. 350Bs were $400.00 apair.I think hes wrong,400 for a single tube, if it test new. Tube rolling with vintage vacuum tubes will change the sound of your Supratek pre.Thats for sure. Though certainly not for the better.If you have money to burn on vintage tubes, slow down, this money for sure is better spent in other areas of your system.Have your c.d. player modded and buy some rollerblocks to go with it. Have your tonearm rewired and carry on with the same wire through out your system. Try out some decent a.c. distribution through out your system,all from the same manufacture. Anyone of these steps will have a profound effect.

Hello Stiltskin,

I have heard that the Roller Blocks are very good. I have a friend that has some. I will see if I can borrow them. I plan on getting a SRA iso base for both the Sony scd-1 and for my VPI Aries 2 extended. The SRA has done more for the sound of my Cortese and for my Berning amp than any NOS tubes I have ever put in either one including Tung Sol round plates. My JMW 12.5 tonearm is wired with stock with in the arm and Valhalla wire in the connector box. I love the sound I get from this hybrid setup.

Pablovila, glad to hear that your Malbecs are on their way to you. Please do keep us updated on the sound. What amp are they replacing? What is in the rest of your system?

If I can ever talk my wife into letting me keep my Berning ZH270, I will get a pair of Malbecs too. I just can't bring myself to give up the Berning. Man, I would love to be able to do a side by side camparison of the Malbecs and the Berning!

Has anyone tried the Revelation Audio Umbilical cord? Do they make a difference? Bob

Slowhand, Yes the rollerblocks set up in the sweet spot under your SCD-1 should be mind blowing good. C.Ds and especially Super audio disks spin at a even higher rates of speed causing vibrations that effect the overall performance of the machine.Finding that sweet spot under that huge SCD-1 will take two people .I found a hardwood stick and block of wood used as a fulcrum to place the rollerblocks and plates a good and safe way. Slowhand for the price of a set of rollerblocks or another S.R.A. platform,you are so close to audio Nirvana.You have Valhalla in your junction box,do carry on with more Nordost Valhalla in your tone arm. And to your phono stage you can use the far less expensive Nordost Frey or Tyr line of interconnects.My experience with having the stock Discovery wire in my old tone arm and junction box along with trying other brands of wire over the years and settling with Cardas Neutral and Golden Reference through out my system.Comparing them to the Nordost wire. No contest. If anything out there that you could do to your system that would be jaw dropping good,this is it...Pablovila looking forward on what you have to say about the Malbecs

Hi Slowhand.
The Malbecs are going to replace either a pair of highly modified Golden Tube 300b Monoblocks or a Wright Sound 3.5. Let's see. The rest of the system:

Teres 265/Triplanar Ultimate/Zyx Airy 3
APL 3910 Universal Player
Supratek Chenin
Coincident Total Victory
Lamhorn 1.8/Lowther EX 4
REL Stadium II

In all probability the Malbecs will replace the Golden Tubes, but I want to try them against the Wright Sound/Lamhorn 1.8/Lowther EX 4 to see what happens.
I'll keep you posted. I really don't know why we are not getting people's impressions about their Malbecs yet. Pablo.

Pablo, I just got a new Airy 3X. I love it! It really sings with my Chenin, using NOS RCA 6J6As and Amperex 7308 PQ gold pins in the phono stage.

I know what you are talking about! It's an unbelievable cartridge, combining the two things most audiophiles really like and are so difficult to combine: detail and musicality. Pablo.

Hi Baranyi

I think some people have ordered the umbilical cord but have not received them yet. Hence not many can give you their views. I ordered and paid for the cables in Feb; in mid Mar wrote to Brad. Then about 20 days ago, Brad (aka Vtech2000) informed that my cables would ship the following week. Till now, I've not received the cable. Talk about broken promises and poor customer service.

Better wait out until Brad fulfills his orders.

I did recieve my cable from Brad. I ordered it on January 30th, and recieved last week. Fit, finish, and build quality are very good. I cannot comment yet on whether or not it makes a difference as the pin configuration and size of the connectors on the RAL umbilical do not fit my Supratek.

I would advise that anyone who orders one be very specific as to how many pin sockets you have AND the barrel size on your stock umbilical. Brad told me that he has seen 6, 7, and 8 pin sockets. Mine only has 5 and a smaller barrel size than what ships with the RAL. I am currently waiting for Brad to try and source the one I need.

If someone wants one - and has an umbilical with 7 pins - email me off list and perhaps we can work something out.

Pablovila,

Looks like you have a very nice system there. I will be very interested in hearing your impressions of the Malbecs.

BE VERY CAREFUL WITH NON-STOCK umbilicals for Supratek preamps! One wrong connection by the cable maunfacturer and POOF!! its the end of your preamp. There are specific voltages being fed from each pin the power supply to the preamp section - get it wrong and you risk damage. At the very least you should send the stock umbilical to the cable guy so that he can circuit-test and make the cable exactly to the original.

Mick uses silver coated copper wire in the umbilicals, the same as found inside the preamps. I would have thought this would have been a good synergistic match, so why interfere? Just my 2 cents worth...

Regards,

Steve.

I agree Stevem1960,

I think messing with the umbilical cord is just asking for trouble. If these preamps are as good as we all think they are, why do we feel we have to find ways to improve them.

Actually - having gone down that road, only to have the RAL umbilical NOT work, I think you are both right. I don't roll the tubes in my Supratek - trusting Mick's choices as the right ones. I should have done the same with the umbilical.

That said - I have found improvement by removing the little hard rubber feet from both the PS and head unit, and replacing them with Walker Audio Valid Points and Discs...

I have the RAL umbilical chord. I was curious if it would make my Supratek sound better. I inquired on this thread before I bought it as there were a couple favorable comments. I figured for $250 its not a big deal, but in the end I preferred Micks umbilical.

Not to say the RAL was all bad. In my second system (Bryston ) which is hyper detailed and tends on the bright side the RAL actually tamed things and made it sound more natural. However in my main system where I have a very natural and airy sound already, Mick’s was more in line with the sonics and only enhanced the experience/quality. But I suppose it could have gone either way. I’m sure the auxilleries you have will play a vital role as to whether anyone will enjoy this chord better then Mick’s. That said I agree with the cautionary note. I would think a DIY project would not be in order. The RAL stuff is pretty decent build and I now have no doubt it works, but the customer service leaves something to be desired.

In a email with Mick he made it clear to me that he prefers folks use his umbilical chord as it is an integral part of the design, Certainly not just an after thought. So in the end I would recommend folks not mess around with this unless it comes as an upgrade from Mick or you are just incredibly curious (like I was), (even then be careful)

On the note of power chords I have tried about a dozen now on my Supratek while in a search for the best chord for my power amp and I have come to the conclusion, more then ever, that Mick’s preamp design is hard core solid and these after market chords make very little difference. I have tried chords costing more then the Supratek itself with very little decernable difference (ie cost of chord to improvement gained). One chord that I felt gave it a bit more air and naturalness is the Gutwire G and C clef Squared. The G-clef squared in around $300 bucks new, but its very decent and someone experimenting with chords might want to audition this chord in their quest. It IMO is a real improvement over the Stock that comes with the unit. Nice to see that you don't need high priced chords to make stuff sound good.

Like always YMMV.

Cheers and good listening

Arkio: That's a good account of things, IMO I think Mick's sound is very sorted out and his circuits so well evolved that these 'add-ons' make little difference. Other than a need to control microphonics sometimes, which IME is usually tube related anyway, there's not much need to fiddle with Supratek products.

That said, I use Solid Tech 'Feet of Silence' ($399) under my Grange, turntable and cdp, and have Yamamura 6000 power cords ($800) on the preamp and Bel Canto DAC-2. My whole system is powered with the Eichmann Power Cable Pod and Power Strip ($570). I'm not sure these tweaky things do much really, but I got them for peanuts and have them in place for peace-of-mind ??

Regards,

Steve.

Hey guys, is the Sauv very quiet on high-eff speakers? Would I have any issues with 102dB/W horns? (I have a sauv already; never tried it with speakers like that.)

That's an interesting topic: what speakers are people with these preamps using. Probably all over the map I'd guess....

Hi Paul. I use a cortese with the Tannoy Westminsters [98db] Dead quiet!

I use Dali Helicon 800's with my Chenin. Power amp is Belles 150A Reference. A very uncolored, neutral combination.

I use a Chenin with the Lamhorn 1.8/Lowther EX4 (101 db. No problem at all! Pablo.

Wondered if anyone had experience of older Suprateks, circa 2000? Much stiffer psu than my Syrah with tubes as follows-
psu - rectifier 5U4GG, 2X 5881/6L6 & 2x 6x4
line is 2x 5881/6L6, 2x 6H3n-E, phono is 2x 6GK5 & 2x 5842 ala Syrah.

I already own a Syrah and bought this older pre used as possibly an upgrade. A biy tatty looking (well used, surely a good sign).
Quick response from Mick as to how to rewire to 240V.
Soundwise - gorgeous on both line and phono:
but - it does not have anything like the gain of my Syrah and whilst the cd just manages to drive my Audiopax to usual listening levels (requiring a good hike on the volume compared to the Syrah), the phono as per the Syrah needs a few notches more and runs out of steam.
Full volume on vinyl is just not loud enough.(using my Koetsu Black so my zxy Airy at 0.24mV has no chance)

Suggested the 6H3n-Es are the problem but since that's what it came with?
If the amp has lower gain than the Syrah and not suitable then more fool me for assuming all Suprateks were pretty high gain >> but if anyone can at least confirm that it's the correct tube complement or suggest a way to increase the gain I'd be well oblidged.
From pin outs I cannot find any tube which could replace the 6H3n-E to give more gain. I can't believe a hint that these should be 6H30s as I cannot see how these could possibly be compatible if it functions with the 6H3n -
but I'm not remotely tube literate so who knows.

Any comments re talk to Mick - he's a busy man & both my Soopies were bought used so we'll assume there's a limit to the man's patience & not stretch it.

Thanks Simon

has anyone got the pre-amp yet? I tried to find more information, but the website is down

jaguarcondor:

are you referring to supratek preamps? plenty of people have received them. i just sold my chardonnay in favor of mick's reference linestage, the cabarnet dual. the supratek website appears to be up and running to me. try here:

http://www.supratek.biz

Good news---the glare problem I've had with my Supratek Cortese preamp seems to have been eliminated. The preamp paid a visit to Kevin Covi, who told me he was certain he found the reason for the annoying overemphasis I was hearing in the mid to upper midrange. It appears his assessment was correct---a faulty operating RIAA capacitor in the phono stage. I got the unit back today, and after having listened to a number of my "test" records for assessing my system's sound, I found no evidence of the glare unless it was actually on the record. We all have our favorite listening test records, and are well aware of their positives and negatives. In the most constructive sense, what I've heard so far coincides with my previous listening experiences with these records before I had even purchased the Cortese. I'll need more time of course before I can safely feel I'm fully settled back into relaxed listening, but I'm certainly feeling I'm getting back on course. Thanks especially to those of you Audiogoners who, with your support, wished me well. And, of course, my considerable thanks to Kevin of Supratek.

Hello Opus88,

Glad to hear that things are back on track for you.

Opus,Good to hear.Lets hope that new capacitor change resolves it. That glare sure would of drove me over the bend.Kgturner did you recently put an order in for a Cabarnet Dual or do you have it now? Also,you have had your monos for awhile,anything new to report? Maril555 I understand you have a Cortese and apair of Mondeuse on order. Any word on delivery?

stiltskin:

still waiting on the cabernet dual. nothing to report on the malbecs per se. i think i mentioned it before, but the malbecs are very unlike any tube amp i've ever used. they aren't particular warm, romantic, or colored, but they're not sterile and uninvolving like some solid state amps i've used. they are essentially the bridge that joins tubes to solid state.

Hi Kgturner, The info on Micks site for the Cabernet Dual is very interesting.Looking forward to your impressions.

I'm still waiting on my Cortese and Mondeuse. Cortese is actually ready, and Mondeuse is in the final assembly stage.

Can a 6L6GAY Be used in the regulator position? Is it similar electronically to the 5881 and 6L6GC?

Thanks,
Dave

Does anyone know how Srajan configured his system when reviewing the Cabernet Dual for 6 moons? Were the Butler Monads on the bottom with the single Yamamoto on top?? Just curious.

F1a-Sraben uses the Zu Definitions which are internally powered for the woofers and aren't biampable. Zu owners please correct me if I'm wrong. He tried both the Monads and the Yamamoto,Monads too powerfull for the 101db Zus. Seemed to prefer the Yamamoto,and said he'd like to try it again with proper speakers that could be biamped.

zachzdb:

srajan uses the definition pro which allow for bi-amping. he has a rane eq which sends the low frequency to the woofer arrays. not sure what his reference bass amp is. he appears to switch between the yamamoto/supratek and the melody integrated for the top.

now, i don't recall him making any mention of using the monad for the woofer array and the yamamoto for the mid/tweets. the best thing F1a could do is email srajan directly. he's replied to several of my emails in the past. however, due to his wife's recent surgery, he may not reply too quickly.

Kgturner- You're right,thanks for the correction. Looked like he was using his Audiosector Patek SEs on the Bass,at least initially.

Agree that it would be best to get any questions answered by Srajan himself.

Did anyone else ever get their Malbecs or Monduse amps?

I got my Malbecs a couple of weeks ago. I was not able to do any serious listening yet, only breaking them up (is that the expression we use?). I'll be able to report on their sound in a week or so. Pablo.

I'm still waiting on Mondeuse. Should be soon, I've been told.

Good to hear guys! Looking forward to your reports...Pablo ,its breaking them in or burning them in.

Thank you Stiltskin for the clarification. English not being my first language (not even my second!), prepositions still evade me. Pablo.

Query re sauvignon linestage

I have had a sauvignon linestage for 2 years plus. It has always had an annoying hum in the left channel only. I have definitely isolated it to the preamp. It becomes almost non audible when the gain is turned down, but this also results in a loss of dynamics. I had the preamp checked out by a local valve guru and he couldn't find anything wrong. Another interesting thing is that when the remote is used, a higher frequecy humm comes from the left speaker only. I assume this is motor noise from the volume control motor?? The right channel is dead quiet. I have rolled the tubes. Currently using NOS Tung Sol's which IMHO are light years ahead of the EH stock tubes. Only yesterday I tried out a RAL umbilical cord but I think it has made the sound less musical. It is shorter than Mick's cord and the left channel hum is definitely louder. I suspect the hum is power supply related. The RAL cord is shorter than Mick's. I'm almost at the point of giving up with the Suavignon but I haven't heard anything that sounds remotely as good.

Any ideas appreciated.
Thanks Mark.

mark:

i'd suggest you email mick and see if you can't ship the sauvignon to either him or kevin covi (depending on your location) for repair. i know you stated that you had the preamp checked out, but i would tend to believe that mick or kevin could find the problem if it is indeed in the preamp as you suspect.

I spoke to Mick today and he thinks it might be picking up some ac current from a nearby transformer. I followed his suggestion and moved it well away from any power source, but still the same. Possible a faulty output transformer?? I have subsequently emailed him. Here's hoping.

I had the some problem hum in right channel. Changed tubes, moved speakers, always in right channel. I did not have that problem in previous apartment, Supratek was dead quiet. But since I have moved, hum is constant.
It is mains, power cables related. Recently I have bought umbilical cord from Brat. I was really angry that it took him so long. But to be honest hum is gone first in 2 years. I still cannot believe it. Neither power cables not interconnects did that much of a difference for me. Dynamic is better, micro dynamic is better too. I doubt that in previous place they would be such a difference but for peoples with hum problem it is a great buy.

I have also got a RAL umbilical lead but it makes no differene to the hum. I am certain it is related to the power supply somehow but I still haven't worked it out.

fyi:

mick updated the supratek site with new pics of the malbec and mondeuse. i didn't notice any other changes though.

OK - on a different tack - as / my post of 04-15-07.
Having read about a couple of early Syrahs being changed from 6SN7s driving the linestage to a noval fitting 6n1ps tubes and parafeed(ala John Tucker mods)? Similar dual triodes with double the heater current , I think to the the 2x 6H3n-E that came in my pre, does anyone with a good understanding know if there is any feasibilty of changing my pre to octal sockets /6SN7's & would this increase the gain? On the other hand, maybe changing it to 6SN7's would kill how nice it sounds, 'comparitvely' speaking and a shame as I have a cupboard full of 6SN7's.

I love this old thing but it barely has enough gain to drive my Audiopax 88s on CD and the phonostage, although appearing (to my untrained eyes)very similar in layout to the Syrah has so little gain to be less than useless.

I still have my Syrah but not keen to go back to it after hearing this pre, which possibly due to the much heavier psu, sounds way better.
I'm also assuming the increased transparency and the lack of
histrionics every time my wife brings her mobile phone into the house is down to the stepped attenuator volume control as opposed to the Syrah's remote.
Talk about a two edged sword :-(

Anyone can give us the review of this amp, The Supratek MONDEUSE?

First impressions on my Malbecs. They make my Coincident Total Victory speakers sing! They never sounded as good before. Very well controlled bass, excellent mid and high frequencies. No problem of hum or any kind of noise at all. They definetively will replace my very well regarded Golden Tube 300b MK I. Pablo.

Thanks Pablov, What is db of your speaker?

I have Syhra pre. Anyone can advise me how to control the switch at the front and the other two switch in the middle and the knob on the back. Note that i play linestage only.
Thanks in advance.

Hi Houstonreef,

re your Syrah, the sitch top front is for the tape loop,
should be in the forward position unless the tape loop is in use.
The two toggles mid top alter the gain of the line stage(one for each channel),
on mines at least they switch backwards for high gain & foward for the lower gain.
The 5 position switch to the rear is in it's highest setting when turned fully anti clockwise and reduces the gain when switched clockwise.
I tend to set the gain as high as I can without 'tube rush' being intrusive but that will depend on your system.
Hope this helps