Preamp Deal of the Century

Well before the Syrah and the Plinius I used to have a Sonic Frontiers Line 2SE and a Krell FPB 200. I sold both of them when my Chardonay arrived. Comparing the two preamps was a little hard since both preamps were used on different amplifiers, given I was able to used the Chardonay with the Krell for a few days, but the Chardonay was not really broken in at the time. Anyway what I can tell you is the difference between the two combinations.

The SF and Krell were great and I've enjoyed it for almost a couple of years, but the Supratek and Plinius are a few notches higher IMO, more air and life are the words that come to mind.

I'm listening to it as I type this and I have a big smile on my face (Patricia Barber "NIghtclub"on the EMC 1).

You guys are so nice. I am going to upgrade pre,poweramp soon so I have any chance to listen syrah with ssamp. I live in montreal canada.

Well, the Cortese arrived and I am speachless! But let me try to share my total and complete joy with any of you who may still be sitting on the fense. GET OFF THE FENSE AND ORDER THIS THING. Never had I heard music reproduction that is so REAL. Everyting I play (intilally-CD and SACD sources) just comes to life. There is more inner detail, dynamics (will scare the you know what out of you when you first experience a "rim shot" through the Cortese), tight and impactful low end, but with a natural bloom that is so often missing in most equipment I've tried, an extended top end that goes out there with such beauty, and the midrange--WHOW.
So Mick tells me that he's been playing with the phono circuitry and related components and that I really needed to get a TT. Well, I thought my vinyl days were done years ago. NOT. I picked up a Music Hall-7 table (didn't want to go to deep - too soon) and DOUBLE WHOW. Can't seem to buy vinyl fast enough. I'm hooked! Does anyone out there have a suggEstion for an upgrade MC cartridge to use in the MH-7 that would have a lower output than the cartridge that came with it (2.5mv)? It is working but Mick suggested that I'm at the upper limits of the imput sensitvity of the phono stage.

Very interesting product.

I haven't heard or seen it, but I'm sure most of the magic
you folks are hearing is the octal base 6SN7s in the line
stage. MFA used these and their mil spec counter part the 5692 in their preamps.

Interesting that the designer didn't use a 6SL7/5691 in his phono stage.

Aloha.

Hi Betcha--

I am among those pairing the Syrah with solid state--I use Bel Canto EVO 200.2 mono blocks and am very happy with this configuration. Like a lot of others, I can't help but wonder about Mick's power amps--could they possibly be as good as the preamps?

Mike, I have a similar situation with my analog set-up. I have a Dynavecter 20XH, a very fine cartridge, but possibly not the best match with the Syrah due to its high output. I am thinking of switching to a Shelter 501.

I know it's been said repeatedly in this thread, but the Supratek has, more than any other piece of gear I own, brought an unbelievable musicality to my system. I literally cannot wait to get home at the end of the day and listen some more.

BTW, the Ken Rads (black glass) do make a noticeable improvement. Now I'm waiting on some Tung Sol 5881s and Sylvania Metal base 6SN7Ws to play around with. Hard to imagine things will get much better though...