Supratek or Don Sachs - which way to go?

Markus - based on many reviews on both the Sachs and Supratek I believe you’re going to be happy one way or another. I’ve experimented with many high quality preamps with different tube configurations, and to me the 6sN7 is king, and not by a small amount. So cool that there were so many great tubes that were produced over the years you have many tube rolling options. Most are reasonably priced (comparatively speaking) though my favourite in most cases is the 40s TungmSols. These are not cheep, however RCAs from the 50s are plentiful, inexpensive and sound great.

i have the pleasure of owning some other 6SN7 based Pre’s not on your short list and can confirm when a designer does a good job of it, the results are stellar. With each brings its house sound the the pros and cons that go with it. Further system synergy is so important, with all the tube rolling possibilities, you should be able to find your nirvana with either.

i hope someone can chime in and provide a candid comparison with the Sachs and Supratek from the same system... I would love know too!

i have a Supratek Chenin. Great preamp, and I love the dynamics it has. Mick is spot on here. I own a Modright LS100. (Supratek, is easily better to my ears).I have an Antique Sound Lab Flora, another one that is very good along with an Wyetech Opal, stella preamp! (Not in the same price category) The Opal betters the Supratek and ASL (my systems, ears and sonic priorities) if anyone in the Toronto Canada area has a Sachs, bring it over and we could have a comparison and I would be happy to report the findings.

Other 6SN7 preamps I’ve been curious about and would welcome a chance to hear in my system included; deHavaland Ultraverbe, Atma-Sphere MP-3, and TRL Dude.

Either of the two on your list have a plethora of universal praise from many well regarded forum members, I think you cant make a bad choice here, though it would be optimal to listen to both in your system before you purchase. All the best with your journey!

The Modwright is a fine Preamp and particularly with good NOS tubes, it sounds fantastic. However It’s only when you compare it to the Supratek does one draw the conclusion it’s a little more grainy. Let’s put it other way..... the Supratek more; dynamic, palpable, smoother, organic with a bigger, deeper soundstage etc.... it’s  more like the real thing. You’ve got to hear it in the same system for comparison. I love any preamp that leverages a 6SN7, personally, I believe they are the best audio tube for preamps and power amp for driver positions too. Though I’ve never heard one, I’d bet I’d like the Shiit Freya too.

Those 40s Tung Sols sound out of this world, unfortunately they have a tendency in some circuits the be microphonic, yet in others it’s quiet. (Wyetech, ASL, and Supratek quiet, yet Modwright noisy) RCAs from all the eras I tried were quiet in no mater what pre I put them in. (unless they were altogether bad) It’s the nature of the beast.  I have no doubt that you can find tubes the stay quiet in the Modwright and last a long time. The factory tubes I started with were quiet, the SQ was not in the same league of the NOS tubes from the 50s or 60s though. As fine as the Modwright is with great NOS tubes, there are better Pre’s out the IMO.

Back to the OPs question, has anyone done a side by side with a Supratek and a Sachs? I would love to know what the differences are!

@facten 

The Syrah was replaced by the Chenin around 2003. The main difference was the tubes used in the preamp phono section and the Chenin uses the Cortese phono circuit. The Chardonnay model is the current line stage iteration with no Phono section. I think the Cortese would be the closest current model with Phono. Call Mick to be sure.

Forgive me as is been 18 month since I did a direct comparison between the Modwright and the Supratek. (I should do another soon) What I do remember is in areas of dynamics, palpability, tonal presentation the Supratek was clearly superior. More meat on the bones, it pulled you into the music better. A warmer presentation too. The Modwright was a flatter, less engaging presentation and was somewhat grainy comparatively. This in spite of the fact I rolled RCA’s 40-60s, Sylvanians, Tung Sols from the 40s. The other odd thing is the Modwright would expose microphonics in tubes that were dead quiet in the preamps. The Modwright is a good piece, my findings are the Supratek is a step up, and the Wyetech be better still to my ears, and systems.