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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
khaki8
206 posts
 
I just recently got an Audio Note M6 with phono and separate step up transformer. It is clearly better than the Cortese that I had. But... it should be for the retail price of $20K. The instruments have more depth and sound more natural and there are no annoying hums or tube rush. Extremely quiet. The least expensive transformer coupled AN pre is the M3. It is important to note that AN makes all the transformers for these transformer coupled pre's and the M6 uses silver wired ones. No one has the knowledge that they have when it comes to high end parts.
c123666
871 posts
 
I have only listened to the Ongaku and lesser Audio Note units such as the M1 line preamp. My Audio Note advisor tells me he prefers the Kondo built M7 preamplifier (w/phono onboard) over the UK M3 > M6 preamplifiers. There is, or was, a Kondo M7 phono for sale on audiogon for 7500/offer. They are an excellent used value; still very expensive for the top of the line Kondo stuff.
rmml's avatar
rmml
204 posts
 
Slowhand, let us know what you think of the Hal-O-Tube dampers,I'm thinking about ordering some myself.
slowhand OP
610 posts
 
Hi Rmml, the hal-o-tube dampers are well worth the price. They only cost $11.50 each, and have done a very good job of calming the microphonics. All the dynamics and musicality of the tubes are still in tact. The rings are worth their modest cost.
slowhand OP
610 posts
 
I have a question for anyone who has one of the newer Syrah preamps with the adjustable gain control. Do you find that using this control affects the sound of the preamp negatively. Mick said that he put the control on the newer preamps because some people could not get enough range on the volume control because of the high gain of the phono stage. Dropping the gain gives more usable range on the volume, but he feels that the sound can suffer. I would like to hear from those who have this control on their preamps. Thanks.
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