Supratek Owners Thread

Hello to everyone in this thread! Just my 2 cents about tube rolling. I am a proud owner of a Chardonnay/Sauvignon (upgraded Chardonnay to Sauvignon with custom headphone output) pre and a pair of Malbec mono-blocks for about 14 years. I have been through various 6SN7 tubes, from rare NOS (round hole) 1578 to Sylvania NOS, Tung - Sol, anything, you name it, I have always come back to the original EH 6sn7 that came with my pre (not the golden pin ones). Each tube had its own positive traits but there was always something special that I was getting with the stock ones. For example I had the best transparency and bass from the 1578 but they didn’t have the mid range magic that I was getting from the standard EH. I have been using the preamp connected to a Weiss MEDEA+ using Kimber Kable 1036 interconnects. I use EL34 for my amps (again the stock ones) and my speakers are the original Tidal Piano. By the way, I am still using the stock rectifier tubes. Everything works just fine after thousands of hours of enjoyment.

I have been using this system for many years without any need to upgrade to something more expensive. I also have got over my tube rolling compulsion, partly due to how good the system sounds with stock tubes and partly due to the gain/feedback combinations of the system. My Malbecs have variable negative/positive feedbacks. If I want different sound signature I can achieve it by changing the feedback levels of the Malbecs and the gain on my preamplifier. This way you can have a relaxing sound (two scales of negative feedback, no positive and low gain on the pre) that extends from the rear walls to the front of the speakers, or a more in-your-face, punchy sound (one scale or no negative feedback, a bit of positive feedback and higher gain from the pre) that sounds as if it is coming in front of the speakers. Or increase both positive and negative to the point that the amps sound almost like solid state. I am using EL34 for the amplifiers. I am using the system in a huge room, but still the bass I get is good: deep, punchy and refined.

This coming year I will also start experimenting with LP playback as I have bought a couple of thousand LPs through the years and still I haven’t got a record player to enjoy them! Of course, the phono will be from Supratek. I wish to everyone here a happy new year full of music enjoyment!

https://adobe.ly/36cOecJ

That is some listening room :-) enjoy your music.

ironsienna , if you want to sell those black glass Tung-Sol 6SN7's send me a note. 

@ironsienna How old was your version of the Chardonnay and what differences did you hear going to the Sauvignon, with speakers that is, as I don't use headphones? When I asked, Mick described them as different, depending on one's tastes, without being specific. I would imagine the Sauvignon improves on some things, such as soundstage and refinement, but the "different" is what I'm curious about. Thanks,

Hi Markthenaimnut,

Synergistic research recently came out with a new line on speakerwire, interconnect and phono cables called "foundation" that are very reasonably priced (especially for them) because as you probably know, some of their stuff can be insanely expensive. The affordable price is attractive but the performance is what's so special. A close friend on mine owns a stereo store in Morton Grove Il and I stopped in to say hello. While I was there I noticed a box of Synergistic interconnect on the desk and asked him if he picked up a new line of wire. He informed me that he did and was now a dealer. When I asked him how much he liked it, he said that he liked it so much that he had to be careful when demoing it because when compared to more expensive wire it usually sounded better which would make him less profit. He said that for the money it was really good. He sells Kubala Sosna, Cardas and Nordost. You may want to try it. I think a 12 foot pair terminated with either spades or banana's sells for $929.00. Now I realize that's still a lot of money but compared to some other wires out there that's not too bad. I've also Had good luck with Kimber Kable model 12TC. Good luck.