Preamp Deal of the Century

thanks Simon74, i just reset the 2 middle backward and gain significantly in volume but i need more time to compare the linestage in low and high gain. what is your favorite (low or high gain) anyone?

Hi Houstonreef. The Coincidents are 96db. Mick modified the Malbecs to work with my high efficiency speakers. As usual, first class service. Pablo.

Am I crazy or did I read somewhere that Mick is working on a DAC for cd players?

Are you serious, slowhand? That is going to be awsome!!!

Hi Houstonreef,

don't change the top plate mounted gain switches with the volume turned up !
However if you just turn the volume down, you can switch thru the rear gain knobs positions and just listen for the best setting. From reading on here, most people prefer the gain set high. I find lowering the gain can make my system sound more relaxed, other people reckon it looses dynamics.
Very much listen and set it to what suits you & your system the best.
The beauty of this range of adjustment is , that as Mick says, it should allow to you find the sweet spot that matches your power amps/speakers.

It was in an e-mail with Mick in Dec. 2004 that he said he was working on a DAC. He was getting so many orders for preamps that he said he would have to put it on the back burner. I hope he makes it a reality.

slowhand:

i remember mick discussing a DAC as well. he was considering selling it for $500 for basic casing and upwards of $600 in a preamp-matching wood (piano black)/chrome casing from what i recall. i was going to wait on it, but found a great deal on the 47 labs setup i'm currently using.

Heard for Mick about the DAC. He said he will not be putting one into production because of so much competition and he can't get the chip he likes anymore.

Bummer!

Houstonreef, I cannot review the Mondeuse yet; but I did order a pair yesterday. 6 to 8 weeks to ship; and few weeks to listen, and you'll have my opinion. That said, I have limited experience... but I know what *I* like... : )

Hey guys
I recieved my Mondeuse last week,
They are Gorgeous!!
They sound great, dead quite I order mine in the Black & chrome(I believe that the one's on Mick web site are mine)
I'm sure glad Mick talked me into the Mondeuse,They are a work of art!! they topped my Plinius SA250 MKIV
I'm still trying to adjust the feedback with the damping factor to best fit my system,
even with the damping turned off it sounds GREAT.
The only draw back the binding post does not accept spades
just bannana or pins,thats a minor fix
even without my reference speaker cables on they are incredible
I order mine back in March of 2006.when Mick was upgrading my Cortese.
They were well worth the wait.
I will let you know more after I listen to them for a couple weeks
any question just ask I will do my best in answering them
If at all possible go with the Mondeuse they are the best!!

Pablo and Rick,great to hear you guys like/love your new amps.

I just replaced the 1.0 uf caps in my Chardonnay with V-Caps (teflons). Wow, wow, wow!

I had previously replaced the stock Alps pot with a DACT attenuator. Rather large improvement.

I also rewired direct from the CD input to the DACT (by-passing the selector switch since I only use one source) with gold alloy wire. Another nice improvement, especially in clarity and tonality (a signature of the gold alloy wire).

I had previously replaced the stock 1.0 uf caps with Auricaps. Nice improvement over the stock caps. Then I replaced the Auricaps with Mundorf Silver Supremes. Much bigger improvement than the Auricaps.

But about a week ago I replaced the Mundorfs with the V-Caps. The V-Caps are expensive as caps go, but I have never spent better money on my system, ever. My Supratek doesn't even sound like the same preamp. Better yet. My system doesn't even sound like the same system.

The openness, clarity, detail, realism, etc. is staggeringly better. I have been reading about how good the V-Caps were, but I didn't think they could be that much better than the Mundorfs. Wrong!

Before I purchased the V-Caps, I emailed Chris Ven Haus about the long break in. He said the break in issues had been over-rated and he referred me to Ralph Karsten's (Atma-sphere) post confirming the hyperbole about the V-Cap break in. I must say after one week, the V-Caps are simply fabulous.

I would highly recommend the DACT attenuator to any Supratek owner and definitely the V-Caps. My preamp is so much better now than before these two changes that I simply can't imagine how I enjoyed it before. The difference is that great in my system. YMMV.

I have been so ecstatic about the V-Caps in my preamp that I can't wait to change the output caps in my Audio Note DAC. I ordered them at the same time that I ordered the caps for my Chardonnay, but I wanted to give the caps and my system time to adjust before I made another change. Now I can't wait. As soon as I return from vacation the V-Caps will go in my DAC the first day I am back home.

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.

Hi Fiddler,Good to hear from you. I'm interested! What was the cost to redo your Chardonnay with the V-caps? Purchase of and installation.

How many, and which ones specifically have you replaced?

I replaced the 1.0uf caps (only two in my version of the Chardonnay).

They cost $176 a piece if you buy two of them.

http://v-cap.com/tefloncapacitors.html

I installed them myself in less than an hour. Relatively easy to do if you can solder. You simply have to remember which solder points the stock caps are removed from and to re-solder to the same points. Mick told me a long time ago that these two particular caps (1.0uf) would make the most difference to upgrade. He was right. I just wish I had installed the V-Caps when I had previously installed the Mundorfs.

I want to thank all of you on this forum for your good will and support. You are a wonderful community. I have loved my Supratek Chenin over the last 7 months but, alas, am moving on (to Joule Electra).

Meanwhile, I have some great tubes that some of you may be interested in:

NOS Phillips Miniwatt GZ34 (100 hours, just broken in) @$250 (gives the deepest, tightest bass you can hear on the Supratek)
NOS RCA 6L6 regulators $124 pair (wonderfully precise and musical)
NOS RCA 6J6A to replace the M8081 in the phono stage $80 pair (these really kick butt over the M8081, incredible dynamics and clarity)
NOS RCA 6NS7 gray glass $50 pair

You'll find my Chenin listed, so tell your friends.

Happy listening,

Rick000,
Any further impressions of Mondeuse?
I'm waiting on my pair, should be finished soon.
Thanks.

Fiddler,
Great post, thank for sharing with us.
I have Chenin, after opening I have found 10 big white caps (they are glued to walls). Are you talking about them ? As I understand you have replaced only 2 of them ?
Which ones ?

Could you provide me with exact resistance of DACT (type, A or C) ?

What have given you more benefit replacing caps or Alphs pot ?

Has any owner any experience with balanced power ?
Is it beneficial with Supratek ?

Sorlowski,

Fiddler is talking about the output caps(just before it goes to the ouput RCA's). In my Chenin, which maybe same as your unit, it is the Auricap (yellow) with 1uF/450V rating on mine. I have not replaced mine nor planning to replace it. I am happy about my preamp as it is.

First tubes, then umbilical cords, now caps. Soon, we have to rewire the whole preamp from PS to the linestage unit. Nothing wrong with all that I suppose. I was guilty riding the "tube carnival", did not bother about the umbilical cord, but I have a feeling the teflon caps will have a difference in sound and might try it in the future.

I tried balance power on the preamp. I did not like it a bit but your experience can be different.

regards

Thanks,
I will have to check how many of them (yellow 1uf/450V)are there.
I agree that Supratek sound really good from the start, but I'm hoping that with some "help" it can be that good like Lamm or VAC :)
What changed in Suratek sound with balanced power what you did not like ?

To me, it sounds very clean almost "sterile" like. Bass is a mother but seems to be louder than the rest. Again, my comments were from my experienced only. FWIW, my left regulator tube (which was brand new) crap out after a week when I was using balance power. Coincidence, maybe, but it glowed red then turned powder white and scared the daylights out of me. Luckily, it did not damage the preamp so I switched to regular power scheme asap.

regards

Sorlowski,

I'm not sure which caps you have in your preamp. My Chardonnay had the stock cap Mick was using about two years ago. He then told me that he found the Auricaps to be better. I installed them. They were better. (I am hesitant to point you to the specific caps as your unit may be different than mine, but they are the output caps off of the tube sockets in my unit).

However, after reading opinions about the Mundorfs vs. Auricaps, the Mundorfs seemed clearly the superior cap. I tried them. Sure enough, they were considerably better than the Auricaps. The Auricaps were fuzzy by comparison.

I had read rave reviews about the V-Caps for some time. I finally decided to try them. They are huge improvement over the Mundorfs and on another planet from the Auricaps. Simply do a search. With only one exception I can find, everyone seems to agree the V-Cap is simply in another different league than any other cap. It certainly is in my experience. And if you read the reviews from a number of highly regarded manufacturers, the V-Caps have no equal.

Regarding your question, which is better - the DACT or V-Caps. Hard to say. I installed the DACT long ago. Had I installed the V-Caps first, the DACT may have made as much difference as the V-Caps, but in the order that I installed them the V-caps made an amazing difference. I honestly believe based on other component upgrades I have made, the V-Caps alone made more difference than a $7,000 component upgrade I made about two years ago.

Amandarae, the V-Caps significantly improved the tonality of my unit, especially the piano. Not to mention the overall clarity. But I can understand your reluctance to change your unit. The Supratek in stock form is terrific, but I feel like my unit is so much better now it's not funny. Remember that Mick has to weigh parts selection based on a target price point of a particular unit. Using a DACT and V-Caps in a Chardonnay would probably increase the price of the unit by $600-$700 (with mark-up) if not more. But IMHO, the product can be improved if one is willing to spend the money.

Having said all that, in the end you may prefer a stock unit over an upgraded unit, but my ears tell me it's no contest. And just to give you a frame of reference, I prefer the cleanest, most transparent, detailed and tonally accurate preamp I can get. I am much closer to that now than I was with a stock unit.

Maril
The Mondeuse sounds better ever time I listen to it!
It is a perfect match with my Cortese.
Mick hit a home run with The Mondeuse.
It will for sure become the Amp of the Century.
Mick & Kevin out did himself again!

Fiddler,

Thanks for the description regarding your findings replacing the output cap.

I am using teflon caps (Sonicap Platinum) on my phono preamp couplings. For the output, I prefer the oil based cap. Of course, I tried the teflon(1 uF) on the outputs as well. It is excellent but synergy takes into effect.

I will dig my 1 uF Sonicap Platinum in the storage and try it with the Supratek. If the result is to my liking, then I will get the V-cap.

Thanks,

Abe

Rick,
I'm encouraged by your experience with Mondeuse. Sure looking forward to getting mine.

Fiddler,
Thank for detailed description, you really get me going,
I like musical liquid sound of Supratek but I really would love to have more resolution, I had heard on CES or HE from more expensive tube preamps (which I cannot afford). I was planning to invest money in Balanced power but now I decided to try DACT and V-Caps instead. It is interesting though how can stupid cap have so much influence on the sound...
I will have to take close-up picture of my Chenin and ask Mike M. which cap to replace (to be 100% sure).
Can you tell me exact parameters of DACT you have installed ?

Sorry for not replying to any emails about the V-Caps or related posts here, but I am in the mountains of Montana with very limited access to the internet. Will reply when I return.

I wonder if anyone else has the Supratek Burgundy amps? They are 100 wpc and 4 chassis. They sound absolutely fantastic. I've had them about 8 months. I haven't seen much written about them. I understand that Mick stopped making them because the were too time consuming to produce.
Thanks
Tony

Fiddler, I'm curious how many hours of break-in you have on those V-caps. I have read that between 300 and 400 hours, they start sounding so good that you had better hold onto your socks.

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.

Tbg,

Why the irrelevant post here on the Supratek thread?

Nevermind...it was a rhetorical question. Enjoy your sound "manipulating" preamp. I'll stick to my preamp that doesn't use some Rube Goldberg contraption to alter the signal with nonsensical, pseudo scientific explanations.

Enjoy what you have, I guess.

I was trying to audition H-Cat wrote a few times to designer, he never bother to respond.

Does anybody have any experience with SOLEN METALLIZED TEFLON ™ FEP SUPERSOUND or SOLEN TEFLON ™ FEP FILM + TIN FOIL can be known as SCR FEP Supersound too.
They are third of the price of V-Cap. Any experience ?
Are they any good ?

Sorlowski, the best place to rattle Roger paul's own corporate H-cat cage is likely on the:
Is there anything better than the final H-cat" thread.

Tbg would there be much alteration of an experienced tube designers original implementation and resulting power response curves if the end user were to swap tubes? Could these tube swaps result in whimsical colorations to fill some void of either room, equipment or end user's listening equalization preference. Tom

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.

Norm,

I'm not sure, but I don't think the post was really meant for you. Re-read it carefully and I think you may come to the same interpretation that I did.

Hello Fiddler,

Any update on how the V-Caps are sounding?

Interesting is my Chenin #250 does not have 1uF caps, instead I have Quricap 0.56uF.
Does anybody know that brand ? Are they good ?

It's probably Auricap,not Quricap.

Hello Sorlowski,

My Chenin is #238 and it has an Auricap (1uF) at the output for both channels of course. Are you sure you are looking at the output caps? Maybe Mick change it who knows but just want to be sure you are looking at the right caps.

As for the teflon caps, after installing mine (Sonicap Teflon) for two weeks, I conclude that in my system although it produces additional "details" or maybe I am just expecting it to happen, I have to put the Auricap back. I do not know but for me, I noticed something regarding the "weight" of the presentation as in different "ambience" on the recording I am very familiar with. Hard to describe! Maybe it is not for me. Maybe my set up is not on par with "Teflon caps" capability.

BTW, the caps have atleast 400 hours on it since I used it on my SET amp before.

regards,

Abe

Hello,
It is Quricap 0.56uF (this Q could be fancy A) (yes they are output caps), there are not other output caps.
It is interesting that he has changed value from 0.56uF (#250) to 1uf (#238). Does anybody with serial below #250 have 1uF ?

sorlowski:

here is a picture of an auricap:

http://www.soniccraft.com/images/Auricap.gif

i can see where the A does look like a Q. regarding the change from 1uF to .56uF, i think mick or kevin would be the best person to ask about that.

That is him my quricap your auricap :)
I'm still waiting for answer from Mike.
Regards

Hi Gang. I haven't checked in here in ages.... Current Supratek preamps are using the Auricap at the output. Fiddlers post on the V-cap teflon is right on the money. Teflon capacitors in general are considerably better at signal coupling than most other capacitor types when employed in any high resolution audio electronics. The V-cap teflon is a quantum leap above the rest. Any teflon film cap [regardless of manufacturer]should yield a substantial improvement over the Auricap.All capacitors do require some run in time to fully open up...BUT keep in mind that teflon based film caps do take many more hours of run-in time to open up to full bandwidth at the frequency extremes. That said: even when brand new, one can hear the superiority of a teflon cap with regards to signal purity, resolution,focus and tonal balance right from the get go. I have been using the V-cap in my Cortese,and as couplers in my amplifiers for a couple of years now and to be candid here....I just couldn't go back to the other film types regardless construction. The hype and all the superlatives given the Vcap are fully justified here. They must be heard to be believed! Hell...I was so taken aback with Telon capacitors I even use a Vcap for a bi-pass cap in conjuction with a mundorf silver supreme in the tweeter section of my beloved Tannoy Westminsters. Run-in or burn-in time: For those that want to swap out the Auricap for another cap? Some of you may want to hear this transformation occur [rather intriguing really] For those that don't have the patience or already know the score....When your not listening to your system, simply run a signal via a tuner or a cd player [in repeat mode] for a couple of weeks with the preamp turned on, there is no need to have your amplifier turned on unless you want to listen to it of course.

Has anyone tried to connect a sub to an output of syhra? if so what type of connector (single or y adaptor) do you use?

I run my Velodyne DD15 out of my syrah. It has stereo inputs, so I just run a standard RCA cable from one of the pre-outs. If your sub only takes a mono cable, you'll need a Y adapter

thanks Goatwuss, my sub has a stereo input and i connected it to the pre and i am really happy with the result.

I wanted to post number 3000 so here it is: I've got a Cab Dual waiting to pick up at Fedex and will drive Wyetech Sapphire monos with it. I'll let y'all in on my impressions post break-in.