2. amps-preamps
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Preamp Deal of the Century

If anyone is looking for a true "World Class" preamp at a very fair price..heed my advice. I just recieved a Supratek Syrah preamp that was hand built by Mick Maloney in Western Australia, and it is absolutely beautiful! This preamp is the best deal you will ever find. I would put it up against any preamp out there for both looks and sound. Price? $2500 for the Syrah (includes Killer Phono stage). Not into phono? Try the Chardonney line stage for $2100. Don't get me wrong, I am not associated with this company. I am just a very happy owner! This preamp is VERY dynamic, yet liquid. It conveys the sound of music better than any other preamp that I have ever heard! You can check out the Supratek website at www. cantech.net.au
slowhand
rockhead
83 posts
 
Mmmmmm.....I ordered mine 3/26 (Syrah)with the only change being 1 set of xlr outs (even though it's not balanced) Maybe that means I am getting close. I haven't emailed Mick since 6/3. Course, Seattle is closer to AUS than DC is so mines probably in the mail. Well, at least it gives me time to break in my new Mephisto so I'm not breaking in 2 components at the same time. I'll probably have a trace of regret when I finally get it because I'm going to miss looking forward to getting it. If that makes any sense.
fiddler
581 posts
 
Aloha All,

Mick sent me an email last week saying my Chardonnay was completed and running in, but he was waiting on the chrome cans from the platers. He said it would only take five minutes to fit them when they come in.

I am a little peeved that Rmml received his unit before me when I ordered mine well over a month earlier. Life's a beach.

I will post an update when I have one.

Aloha,

Warren
bwhite
807 posts
 
Hey! I've been on vacation from audio for a while since I am in the process of losing my job. I've been focusing on finding another job instead of spending time here - sorry.

Its fantastic to return to the boards and learn that many of you will be receiving your preamps soon! I certainly hope you love 'em!

Asa - Mine is still sounding great however its a pain in the butt to find good NOS tubes. The KenRad Black Glass VT-231's are great and so are the similar (but NOT the same sounding) Black Glass 6SN7GT's. Unfortunately they tend to be noisy - and the Supratek is very sensitive to bad tubes.

Also - the power supply is quite sensitive to where it is placed. There is an audible difference between placing the power supply on various surfaces. I get the best sound from mine with all the feet removed and placing the unit on a MDF shelf. Too hard of a surface doesn't seem to sound too good and too soft is lousy! Black Diamond #3 cones are too soft for the power supply but work well on the preamp itself. I was hoping to get #4 cones to test out but... my company took a nose dive.

Additional improvements came from adding dampening material (Dynamat) inside the preamp on the chassis and on the inside of the bottom plate. This helps reduce microphonics and vibrations in the preamp.

Also a little mass increased the performance of my preamp. I filled double plastic bags with some "special" sand and placed them inside the two domes in the back. These domes used to contain transformers but now only contain AIR... They are only for looks. The sand actually decreased the vibration sensitivity even further and made the preamp sound a bit better.
mlg
56 posts
 
Gentlemen, I can give you some information on what you may expect if you ever have to send your Supratek preamp back to Mick for repair. (See Ozzy's post of 7-10-02). I recently purchased a used Syrah that produced a hum in my system. I corresponded with Mick. After discussion he offered to update the preamp (which was an old model) to current specs for only the cost of shipping!! We ended up adding a few more things to it (jacks, impedance selector) for a very modest cost. It also came back all polished up. And (I hate to tell you this) he bumped me up to the front of the line since I needed service. The bottom line is Mick believes it is very important to give first class service after the sale. Service to current customers gets priority over new orders.
BTW, after only a brief listening so far, this thing might actually be as good as the hype!
asa
662 posts
 
bwhite, yes, sensitive to tubes. I get some noise from the Ken Rad black glass but it varies with the set (I have 4 pr). Still worth it though. I suspect that damping would help, but seems Ok on my RixRax stand, which is quite heavy. Maybe try Vibrapods on the PS; I've had good luck with them as a general rule on tube gear and they are cheap to try. The transformer towers are empty? Really? I never bothered to look and it doesn't seem Mick's style to put something on just for cosmetics. Seems heavy back there. What do you mean "used" to contain transformers? Shun Mook pucks also help in these limited circumstances where component is very good and you don't want to lose harmonic performance or introduce sterility to space with over-damping. Just wood pucks, but darn it, they do work. Here's a story on them: I'm reviewing them for some Indonesian magazine and am quite skeptical. I hear differences when placed on things but no big deal. Decided to leave them on TT plinth because worked well there, but again, lots of stuff works well in varying places and you just keep going til you find the combo. Had put them on top of my ESP Concert Grands - very heavy, vibrationally inert and well-made speakers - and was about to remove them to pack 'em up when noticed that I had put them upside down. Now, I know the "manual" said be sure to put the carving side up, but frankly, with the skepticism, maybe I didn't pay as much attention. So, since I was doing a review I turned them over, not expecting anything, and Whoooa!: liquidity increased, depth increased, transients became more integrated etc. Not subtle, really let the harmonics of the speakers shine.

So, hang in there; you'll find the combo. Of course, you made need deep therapy by then...
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