Supratek or Don Sachs - which way to go?

Has anyone tried Grant Fidelity's Shuguang Treasure Globe 6SN7-SE?

Hope you understand the limitations of a direct comparison by someone else, unless they talk your audio language (which, speaking generally, is not often the case, at least not without repeated questioning). It’s like comparing the effect of a tube change, something I posted about the other day on a What’s Best Forum in relation to Lampi dac and Supratek Chardonnay. I have no doubt one of the two tubes, the one most transparent, detailed, lively, articulate, etc. would be the favorite of most, "the best," but I preferred the one that is less transparent, etc., because instead of finding myself focused on the first’s wonderful analytics, the second draws me into the music emotionally. Yet, there are a whole lot of people, if not most these days, for whom analytics, "sonic effects," are their emotional draw. So is the person doing the comparison the same or similar to you? It is no different with preamps. In fact, the problem is even more difficult with tube gear, because the comparison may be made on the basis of the provided tubes, which may or may not be of equal cost/sonics and thus the best presentation of the developers’ current ideas about voicing. Some tube rolling might change the comparison dramatically.

I chose the Supratek Chardonnay for a few reasons:
- true balanced outputs at no extra cost vs. faux balanced outputs, meaning impedance issues running to low impedance amps (active speakers), and additional costs for dealing with it (cost for different value caps)
- sound intentionally on the warm side (I don’t see anything about tone/pitch in the Sachs’ write up or in customer comments, or in discussing the sonics of the provided/recommended tubes)
- separate power supply
- lifetime transferable warranty vs. "one full year" (in bold) to the original buyer for the Sachs. Record of units lasting decades.
- a good case made for point to point wiring, however "messy"
- lower upfront cost and possible tube rolling costs not that much

@wjt3 If you go back in the thread, you’ll find the reasons I went with the Supratek Chardonnay over Sachs. Now that I know what Mick does, I might have gone with 6SN7 Cabernet, though Mick says the DHT 300B has more "bloom." I’ve found some tube rolling is getting a bit more of what I want out of the Chardonnay, not that it was anything but good to start with. Sachs was not a good fit for my needs and what I think is important, SQ aside.

Seems something to Mick directly, then post the result here if appropriate. If you’re referring to the large canisters on top showing in the photos, I think he changed the design. My Chardonnay doesn’t have them.

Having not heard the Sachs, I can't speak to aspects of its SQ, but what impressed me about Mick's vs. Sachs was true balanced ins and outs, a consciously designed modestly warm sound and the lifetime coverage. $500 or so less for the Chardonnay didn't hurt either, but wasn't decisive.

The 10K input sensitivity of my ATC SCM19A actives was also an issue with the Sachs. Don would have needed to use (very good) Mundorf 3 uF silver oil cap instead of his favorite Polish .47 uF oil one for fit in the case, with $125 for the difference. Not an issue with the Supratek.

As you say, one difference is that the Supratek has a separate power supply, which means an umbilical. The one provided is not bad, but my experience is that the SQ effect of umbilicals and even 5v lines can typically be improved significantly (as a textbook engineer, Mick doesn’t believe that could be true). Ironically, I lucked into a cable maker who also doesn’t believe it, but nonetheless offered to make me one in a private deal with the Belden high quality copper with silver plating that he uses for internal wiring of the headphone amps he builds. The result was like taking the Chardonnay a good half step up the sound quality ladder. Revelation Audio also makes them commercially for the Supratek.

My only worry with Supratek is the cost of shipping were a tube socket to go bad.

Think you need to ask Mick.

When I asked about the LTA MicroZotl preamps, I was told by both developer and owners that it was tonally "neutral" as opposed to modestly warm. If the amp creates that kind of tonality overall in your system and you like it, then be aware that Mick builds intentionally on the (modestly) warm side. Of course, you can make his builds neutral with careful tube rolling.

The noise you are describing seems to be normal — same when turning on and sometimes iff my Chardonnay — and should cause no harm to your speakers no matter when you turn it on or off, but ask Mick if you want. I’d also ask about the hiss. Depending on the amount, that may or may not be normal. Jim Smith, the well known set-up guru in the U.S., says that in his experience systems with a touch of noise sound better than those that are dead silent. But of course, noise can be of different types and volumes, so it’s worth asking as well as checking all connections and making sure cables are well placed.