Supratek Owners Thread

Thanks everybody on this thread for sharing your experience with Supratek/Mick. It was extremely useful to me making my decision.

I just placed an order for Cortese LCR preamp/phono.

I cant wait to receive and hear this preamp. It was go against my current pre - EAR Yoshino 868PL preamp so stakes are somewhat high already.

I will share my feedback..in few months once I receive it..

Cheers.

Finally set up my Cabernet 6SN7 on my main system. I am using an LSA Warp 1 class D amp while I wait for my Decware Torri to be built in a few months. Sounds fantastic. I did order a Revelation Audio Labs umbilical cord and ii is a nice addition to Mick’s stock cord. First impression of the cords prior to full break-in is Mick’s sound more warm with larger soundstage like tubes and Rev Audio’s sounds bright/ detailed more like solid state. Any input on how these cords settle in?

It’s been interesting working with Mick he’s a great guy. Ordered a Chardonnay but he was having transformer parts delay so he offered a Cab at a discount instead to avoid an extended delay. Then he was also having difficulty getting tubes so he sub’d some 40-50’s Aussie 6SN7’s. One tested low on arrival and failed badly the second time I used it. The chassis serial number labels had Chardonnay listed as the model and I had to ask Mick to send me new labels which he forgot about until I asked a second time. None of these are a problem for me I understand all the supply chain issues and he is quite busy dealing with it all. He is an accommodating guy of his word and aims to please. One last etiquette question…should I ask Mick for replacement 6SN7 tubes? He didn’t offer when I told him the tube failed? I wasn’t going to ask and just chalk it up as bad luck but wondered how others would respond. Thanks

Honestly @tksteingraber  I wouldn't worry about asking Mick to send replacement sn7's.   Your better off finding some good ole NOS USA (or new/current) ones from a reputable local (US) source and going that route.  Things take such a beating these days during travel and it's a long trip from AU.   A decent pair will cost you about the same as his shipping cost to you..

@jslateiv Thanks…yes I have a few 6SN7 pairs of old stock ‘50’s-60’s RCA’s and Raytheon’s that sound very good and test strong.  Mick’s Russian tubes don’t seem to be up to the task for the Cab. Sounded slightly grainy not as clear.  I rolled some of my tubes yesterday and noticed my tubes were better across the board.  I settled in with GE 5AR4 ‘60’s copper plates, RCA 6SN7GT ‘50’s gray glass, and Shuguang ‘70’s mlitary 6L6 coke bottle. Really enjoy the SQ as it all breaks in👍.

Ok after a few days of tweaking and tube rolling with my Cabernet I have discovered fuses and tubes make a significant difference in SQ. I installed a QSA Yellow fuse and wow it made a significant SQ improvement.  Tubes have made a difference and I am now using RCA 6L6GC ‘60 black plate bottom getter, RCA 6Sn7 GTA  black plates and a 5AS4A rectifier.  Wow nice SQ!