Preamp Deal of the Century

I need some help. As many of you know I've been given a Syrah for an extended loan because of some health issues I'm facing. The preamp that was to become the loaner developed a problem and we have tried to troubleshoot via email with Mick rather than going through the lost time and expense of shipping it back to Australia. He has had us take readings from various locations internal to the preamp and everything tests fine. We've rolled so many expensive tubes that it cannot possibly be a tube issue. It has been in two systems in which it operated perfectly but now is unlistenable.

My friend is so dedicated to me having a Syrah in my system that he bought another one here on Audiogon. It has the same issues. Here's the best description I can give you. Keep in mind that with my system I have no other source but analog.

When the preamp is turned on and you first play it after about five minutes of warm up it sounds okay but like it needs a little more time to warm up. Very listenable but not stellar. After about ten minutes the sound improves and is very enjoyable (but not nearly what I remember when I had it in my system a year ago) for until about 45 minutes of operation. Sibilance starts creeping into the recording and becomes so pronounced in quick fashion as to sound like distortion.

I use a high output moving coil which is loaded at 47k. When this sibilanc/distortion comes in and I change the loading to 10 ohm it actually makes the recording sound much better but is still, IMO, unlistenable.

I discoverd this on the second preamp after the Daytona race yesterday. This new (used) preamp had been hooked up to my system for about a day although I hadn't spent any time with it until after the race. So, here I sit, the recipent of some of the most thoughtful kindness I've ever had bestowed on me and feeling horrible. My friend has a boatload of money tied up in two preamps that are at my house in an unusable condition. Anyone have any ideas short of crating them up and sending them back to Mick?

You can do a member search of Vetterone and see his system. At one point the Syrah bettered his DCC2 as a preamp in his system and by a fair margin. My system consists of an LP12/Ittok/BPS source, Ridge Street interconnects, LK100 amps with Aktiv cards, Ridge Street speaker cables and Aktiv Linn Keilidh's. My Audible Illusions Modulus II and Linn Wakonda preamps sound way better than either of these Syrah's which is really depressing.

Amandarae,

No, no step up transformer involved. I emailed Mick about my specific cartridge and he said no problem using it as that's the same cartridge he uses. It does sound like an overloaded phono stage to my ears. No difference between channels either. I'll try to explain in slightly different words what's going on. It sounds okay from initial play until the unit warms up for about 45 minutes. Then the sibilance sets in and gets worse, pretty quickly (5 minutes or so), until the sibilance is so pronounced it effects everything which sounds like distortion to me.

Don't think I'm not anxious to answer these questions and get some input but I've got a really busy day going. Company is arriving today for a weeks stay. I don't have the tube layout memorized. Maybe Steve will post about the two preamps and their minor differences. One point to consider is that in the other system with a 901 cartridge it sounded bad too. In both systems and with both cartridges it had, at one time, sounded as wonderful as this thread talks about. Anyway, the factory loading spec for my cartridge is 47K. Again, this cartridge (same one I have) is one that Mick uses.

Ray, thanks for thinking about me and the preamp problem. I'm ready to throw in the towel since I'm way over my head here. My opinion is that Mick needs an authorized US repair person. The expense and wasted time shipping gear to Australia and back is just too much to expect out of supposedly valued customers, IMO. If this has happened to Steve and I it's just a matter of time until others are similarly affected. In no way is this a criticism of the performance of this gear when it's working right. I'm just pointing out something that Mick should address. Bottom line is that I'm truly heartbroken. I'll probably not have this in my system. To make matters worse my old Audible Illusions went belly up and repair will exceed it's value. Now I'm using my sucky solid state unit. Ouch!!

Hi Guys,

My Syrah is working pretty well but I have yet to find the perfect combination of tubes to maximize its potential. This thread is so time consuming and I'm so lazy! Has anyone compiled a list of tube compliments that are proven to work well together? I'm talking about complete nine tube compliments. It would sure be helpful.

Also, has anyone experimented with tube shields in an attempt to lower the noise floor? I don't find the amount of tube/circuitry noise to be a problem since my speakers are reasonably inefficient but I would think it would be annoying with some speakers. The 6SN7's seem to be very prone to noise issues and I'm wondering if all the tubes are perhaps picking up noise from each other.

Thanks Slowhand. That's exactly what I need. Jazzdude, I don't have issues with microphonics. What I notice is that very quiet 6SN7's are difficult to find. There is a background noise that is circuit noise. I'm guessing that since the tubes are so close to each other that they may be picking up noise from each other. I was wondering if anyone has placed a temporary grounded shield around each tube to lower the noise floor. No need for me to try this if others already have. Again, it's not that noisy and I'm not disappointed. Can't blame me for wanting it to be totally silent.

The last several posts have been most valuable to me. Thanks to all of you!

Does anyone have a pair of used (broken in), quiet EH6SN7's they would be willing to sell me? I'd prefer not to have to wait for a long break in.

Also, has anyone used EL34's in the regulator position in a Syrah? And, if so, what was your opinion?

Thanks-Pat