Preamp Deal of the Century

Tubegroover. The phono stage of the syrah is truly outstanding,and very flexible regarding cartridge choices.Due to the higher gain and loading flexibilty in the syrah, It will better the cat,the sp-10 and the lumi when using mc cartridges with outputs below .5 mv. I have run the phono stages of every one of them through the line of the syrah. Higher output coils or magnets are another story as each one of the above pre's have top shelf phono stages that are very engaging and incredibly good by anybody's standards. My cartridge of choice is the Koetsu rosewood [circa 1980] that I recently had rebuilt by Koetsu. While it was being rebuilt,I used either a denon 103,shelter 501 [briefly] or the low output grado reference[.5mv]. With the denon[.25mv]the syrah won hands down.With the Koetsu,I do preferr the phono stage of the both the sp-10 mk2 or the lumi when loaded below 100 ohms and run through the line of the syrah.With the shelter however...I much preferred the syrah with the cat coming in a close second.The grado sounded simply wonderful through each and every one of them,but did have more weight and the tightest bass through the phono of the syrah.Comparing the phono stage of the supratek to these other great phono stages is not only a testiment to its credibilty but was a revelation of sorts to me and the main reason why I think it has no real competition at it's given price point. Given it's phono stage flexibilty and oustanding line stage all in one package......It is stupid good and really a no brainer!!!!! Mike... There is no doubt in my mind that the Wadia is at a whole higher level than my humble sony cd player,........however.....be prepared to be mesmerized with the analogue experience if your thinking of going there...I'd take bets it will put another big dent in the old savings account once you hear it in that fabulous system of yours.

Ecclectique et al: Thanks for your kind remarks and helpful comments. Count me as another prospective Supratek owner. Yep, I just ordered a Syrah (Chenin).

As with other comments in this thread, this buying unheard, is a leap of faith, but one, I have a fairly high level of confidence in. I first tried Harmonic Tech cables well before any periodical advertisements, or reviews simply based on “internet word of mouth” and was very satisfied with them until a local Engineer/Audiophile acquaintance fabricated his own, for which I became quite smitten, and replaced my HT’s .

Internet “word of month” also prompted my audition of the Audio Resolution Opus 21 CDP. Albeit expensive, it’s a wonderful machine for its price point (and lives up to its “Resolution” name), and if I didn’t get a really good deal on a Wadia 861, I would have kept the Opus 21.

With that said, I hope the results of my purchase are as positive as everyone’s herein. I intend to re-read all the posts about tube rolling and start contemplating doing same.

Additionally, I intend to research turntable and cartridge combinations, and if as I requested above, anyone is of the mind to share some of their insights regarding $2-3K (+/- within reason) combinations, I would be quite grateful ..Cheers, Mike

Yeheey, yeheey!!!!!

Stiltskin's pre is about to be completed and ship! That means mine will be next (if not second or third)!!! I ordered a few days after him!!

Congrats Stiltskin! Please update us about your impressions once you have the Chenin in your system!!!

Aaahhhhh, Patience is a virtue but time moves soooo slow when you are waiting.......

On the positive side, it's a good thing to know that although I am waiting, I am waiting for something great!

cheers....

Amandarae - patience... I think it took over 6 weeks for me to get my Cabernet after Mick started building it. He started building it in the middle of January and I got it on March 8.

Information on the possible upgrade Syrah/Chenin:

Mick told me in a e-mail that it would be a big job to put the new design into a Syrah. It would entail a complete rebuild of the phono section and would be very expensive, probably to the point of not being worthwhile.

He´s trying, though, to think of a way to upgrade the Syrahs without too much expense- has a few ideas and hopes to have a solution soon.