Supratek Owners Thread

@jslateiv Do you know what could be causing audible noise coming through the left speaker when adjusting volume?  The noise stops as soon as I stop turning the volume knob —which I usually adjust via remote.  Thanks!

I joined the Supratek owner’s club recently with a new-to-me Chardonnay.  Very happy with it.  It’s been a better than expected improvement to the music over my Schiit Freya+.  What amps are people using with their Supratek?  

@tksteingraber Nice Decware!  My speakers (Devore Fidelity Nines) can run on 20 watts but they seem to come alive with more power.  I'm using the Chardonnay now with 3 different amps -- Schiit Aegir (two running balanced as monoblocks), a Line Magnetic LM-34ia as power amp, and an old McCormack DNA-1.  All have their unique sound qualities but using balanced outputs from the Chardonnay to the Aegirs is by far the quietest pairing -- in that there's no noise at all coming from the speakers when not playing anything.  With any of the other amps running RCA cables, I get a little bit of noise.  Granted, you have to be right up to the speaker to hear the noise but it's there.  Adjusting gain doesn't seem to affect it at all. The music coming out of the amps with RCA connections is still great, though.  I'm curious about your time with the LSA Warp. I'm inclined to pair the Chardonnay with a solid state amp using balanced connectors.  

@sim_audio_nerd  Thanks!   That must be a really nice combo.  What speakers are you using?  And are you running balanced connectors between the Grange and Coda and have you compared that to RCA connectors?

Just upgraded my Chardonnay with a new remote control. Nice heavy aluminum and just the 2 buttons I need. The remote Mick supplies is fine but this just has a nicer feel and no unnecessary buttons. Easy to program. Sounds better too. ;-)

@sim_audio_nerd i bought it on Ali Express.  You’ll need your original remote to teach it but it’s very easy to do.  
Aluminum alloy material infrared signal learning remote control, 2-button, simple style, high-end audiophile
https://a.aliexpress.com/_mMYD2m8

@jslateiv Thanks.  I only get the noise when using the remote, which is odd.

@jslateiv  Thanks!   The noise makes me wonder if a better motorized pot would be an overall sonic improvement but not sure what to even change it to or how.  That little bit of noise is a worthwhile tradeoff for how good the preamp is. 

@gryphongryph Thanks!  Good to know it's the same on your preamp too.

In completely separate news, a 6SN7 died in the Chardonnay last night.  I was listening to music, heard a loud unpleasant sound from my right speaker and then the speaker went silent.  Swapped around amps and speakers just to troubleshoot that they were working fine and then started swapping tubes.  Visually, the tube looked fine, maybe a little dimmer than the other, but it was pretty dead sonically.  Had a nasty ozone-like smell to it.  Luckily, had a backup pair of tubes.   Have never experienced that before and it definitely surprised me.  

Any new production 6SN7 that anyone would recommend?   I'm running Sylvania GTB now and would like to try a new tube vs a potentially old "NOS."

@evank  Thanks!  System is looking good.  Did you move?  Are you going to CAF?

@tksteingraber  Thanks!  The noise isn’t much of an issue and only happens with remote, so will just ignore it.

@jslateiv Thanks!  I’m going to DM you about something else when I have more time. Really appreciate all the help.

@tksteingraber Glad you like the remote!  The instructions are on the product page on AliExpress but you figured it out.  I think Mick should buy a bunch of these, screenprint a logo on them, and ship them with his preamps.  They’re much closer to the build quality of the preamps than the current remote.