Preamp Deal of the Century

Mrmb,

The phono stage of my Chenin is the best thing that ever happened to my vinyl set up! Less cables, more flexibility, better sound purity, you name it.

Now instead of worrying how to improve my system, I am accumulating tons of LP's!

Congratulations! With equipment like yours, the Chenin will be equally at home and then some. Like Swampwalker says, let the unit break in first before tube rolling! In the phono stage, I suggest either the Sylvania Gold Brand 6C4's, RCA black plate 6C4's, or the Tungsol Black Plates 6C4's and Siemens 6922's! With any of this combination in my system, the sound is simply divine!

Cheers!

Mine is on order. Mick is now using 6J6 instead of 6C4 in the phono stage as he says the 6C4 valves are harder to find these days (at least in Australia). He did say, though, that I could use 6C4s (I guess it's a direct replacement, but the 6C4 is a 1/2 12au7 tube and the 6j6 is a dual triode tube historically used as an oscillator). Is that what you are doing? Did your Chenin come with the 6J6/6922 phono stage complement or do you have the original 6C4/6922 combo?

Thanks.

Stephen D.

Stephen,

I do have the original 6C4/6922 combo. But I think the phono preamp section can be re-wired to use 6J6 as well. In my case, I am very happy and does not look into that avenue at all. Besides, 6C4 is not that hard to find here. I also found that even the Motorola 6C4's are good sounding in my set-up. I won an auction at e-bay where I got 12 pieces NOS for $15.00.

Even the very nice sounding, I have a pair, GEC 6C4 at e-bay (I missed the auction!) can be had at $36.00 a quad. That should last a while.

For the 6922's, I am still clinging to my claim that them are not the "money" tube in the Chenin phono. Maybe just me, but I rolled several 6922/6DJ8 like Tele,Amperex, Sylvanias, etc. and even 7308's and not convinced with the results especially for the price I paid for them(although I have Siemens 6922 on the preamp right now).

To each his own, I guess!

Cheers, I bet you will like the preamp!

I just ordered the Chenin too.....I hope I will be very happy like everyone else?...:-)....2 month wait.:-(.....I sold my cables, my preamp, and etc...to get the Chenin....

Is Chenin prettier than the Hovland in real life?....better sounding too right?...I almost purchase the Hovland...but it is not the "Preamp of the Century"....:-)......

Longho68,
2 month wait?! I've been waiting almost 5 months so far. Hope your sell-off of other equip. has not left you "musicless" while you wait.

Mick is doing his best to get these things out to people, but I think we should be realistic and patient with him. It seems our anticipation and wait will be richly rewarded...