From my experience:
( so take it with reservation since I've own these in the last 6 months or so and I could be bias. Also interaction with rest of my components/synergy might ....... and is big factor you have to take into consideration if you decide to place any one of these on your "must addition" list)
* In no particular order *
Supratek -
+excellent preamp, with speed , transparency , musicality, effortless transitions and truely engaging sound.
-no real shortcomings , but if I had to point my personal , tinny complaints (that word is truely unjust in my description but for lock of better words - forgive me) it would be a very small/minimal higher and upper middle range frequencies coloration that I can only describe as edginess or grainy saturation that might be interpret as a extra information or realization of the detail that is actually not there. It is very enjoyable at first but ( in my case ) after a while ........ boring and to some degree .... bothersome.
2nd, it is a little microphonic and tube rolling could become very expansive.
= At the end a great buy by any measures. Super, especially for someone looking for transparency and system that could use some extra sparkle at the top of the middle range & treble. Very quite and flexible.
*Jas Array 1.1 linestage with tube 211 (pair) as rectifier.
+ unbelievable body, extremely sweet, very good soundstage. Buid like a german tunk. Quite.
- locks some transparency . Lot of tubes to replace. Stock tubes sock.
= great preamp for over-bright systems and/or audiophiles looking for musical and more relaxed presentation.
*Granite Audio 770FP with phono stage( very limited home audition - few hours . More at the dealer's showroom and 3 full days at CES).
+ Silent , easy/cheap tube rolling, nice phono section with flexibility for variety
of cartridges. Tape loop. Sound wise , neutral somewhere in between Jas and Chardonnay. Very good notes seperation as well as instrument placement . Very engaging . Easy on the ears and long listening sessions.
Nice with digital sources. Good job at taking the edginess from some bad recordings.
- A little too heavy on the bass side (I think it might be becouse of my system, room and Quatro's lower bass extension). Stage, a bit narrower then Supratek but deeper.
Some guys will call me nuts ..... but believe it or not I am working on closing the deal on yet another preamp (4th in 6 months). Can't and won't say which one becouse the deal isn't finalized. Beside, very few know it or heard this preamp. All I can say is .......it is made here in US and you can say goodby to your power cable - you won't need it.
Next..........AH..? Maybe.
