Preamp Deal of the Century

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...

Hi Asa, The "older" versions - like yours - actually did have transformers (or something) in the rear domes. The newer Suprateks do not. The new Suprateks are feather-weights and seem to respond well to the added mass.

For example - without the dampening material in my preamp, even a light touch on the top of the metal chassis would cause an audible effect. It sounds much like a single piano note. NOS tubes further increase the problem....

The increass in mass stops this from happening.

The added dampening material does not effect the sound other than making it quieter.

Removing the four plastic feet on the power supply and resing it on the frame seems to be the best so far on all Suprateks I've come across. Vibrapods are way too soft. Placing it on anything softer than MDF sounds sloppy. Anthing harder (for example granite) - can sound shrill (with the feet removed). If the PS had to be placed on a hard surface, the vibrapods would help.

I also added Bybee devices to the AC input and post rectification stage in the power supply which initially added dark flavor but after break-in sound quite nice vs. without.

There is a Chardonnay here for sale. Only 2 weeks old. Is that even enough time to let it settle in?
p.s. It's not mine and I don't know the gentleman.
Patrick

The Suprateks sound good when they are brand new but do in-fact get better over the first month or so. Also, the stock Zenith 6SN7 tubes Mick uses in the pre are not all that fantastic. NOS tubes make a significant improvement.

My Chardonay came with Sovtek 6N8P, with Chinese letterings on the glass so I'm assuming it's Chinese made. I have not listened to them as I followed the advice of Bwhite and others on the Ken-Rad VT-231.I am currently waiting for a pair Tung-Sol VT-231 round plates and Raytheon VT-231 which I will be comparing with the Ken-Rads. This should be fun in the next couple of weeks.
On a side note, one of the Supratek owners on AA mentioned the the stock Chinese Sovteks 6N8P were actually not bad at all,If I remember it correctly he mentined that it may even be slightly better than the Raytheon VT-231s.