Supratek Owners Thread

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.  

Thinking about replacing my PS Audio BHK Signature preamp and I'm looking at 2 units, the Supratek Cabernet 6SN7 and the Linear Tube Audio Microzotl preamp. Has anyone had a chance to listen to either of the two preamps? Thank you.

Scot 

I have a a Chardonnay on order, but have not heard either company’s gear. What I do know is what others have said: 1) Supratek is tonally on the warm side, Microzotl is definitely “neutral” (I’ll look up the forum link later); and 2) Someone with a BHK recently bought a current Cabernet used and ended up selling it in short order, saying privately to me that the BHK had better dynamics in his system. I think that Cabernet was the standard, not the dual. What I don’t know (or recall) is to what degree he had rolled tubes on either, which could have affected his results.

The thread was at head-fi and the response I got about where the LTA Microzotl preamps stand on a cool-to-warm continuum were either clearly "neutral" or hard to decipher (pg 7-8):
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/microzotl-3-by-linear-tube-audio-true-high-end-audio.895908/page-7

Here’s the message I got re the Cabernet, and it was a dual:
"I did like it quite a lot but have returned to my PS Audio BHK Reference. Both are really good but the BHK has better dynamics and immediacy... in my system."

Here's my two cents from owning the Chardonnay for a little over a month and the BHK for over two years plus having several friends that have owned the Micro-Zotl preamps. First from every report I have heard from owners I know the LTA is on the cooler side of neutral.  In my system using the BHK amp the Chardonnay has easily beaten the BHK preamp in terms of tone and sound staging from the time it came out of the box.  If someone is having a problem with the Supratek preamps in terms of "drive" then they need to check the rake angle on their speakers and turn the gain on the preamp up.  My BHK preamp is going up for sale as no matter how good it is it can't keep up with the Chardonnay and I can only imagine what the Cabernet would bring to the table.