Preamp Deal of the Century

TOK, you're right, juice makes all the difference with Digital. Its just tough to tell someone who wants a bit better CD player that he should also load mucho bucks into a power cord. I remember when I wrote this review in TAS on the ESP cord (ten years ago - damn it, I'm soooo old!!). Not much was out yet - the Positive Feedback crowd was just onto PC's - and people were still slinging arrows over IC's. I got a ton-o-grief off that piece from people who just didn't think wire was "technology" or was a "component" (which is what I said then), so I know its very tough to get people to go there, even now. Frankly, in the beginning it was tough to get me to go there! A year later, however, there I was with a PS Audio Lambda II transport, power filtering devices, dedicated lines, ground post, the Timber DAC getting all kinds of treatment, going through a year long digital cable shootout that nearly drove me crazy, and an audit and tactic digital "interface" stuck between the transport and DAC - four PC's in all just for the CD "player"!!

Like analog, digital takes work, even when convenience is one of your motives (its one of mine!)and I'm sure the Burmester is very fine (I haven't hear it, but I'd be taken by surprise if those factors above were ameliorated to a sufficient degree - but I'm always willing to see!), but for the bucks vs. performance vs. involvement, its hard to slight what we have in analog now.

And that's where the Syrah comes in: you get a verey, very good line stage but with a great phono stage for a pittance, and overall, a great product that many people would never touch because its not in the mags, and performance that they might have never touched if they had been forced to pony up big bucks for a mag-touted pre.

I'm sorry its taking so long to get units; its very frustrating. I warned Mick about this, but also respected his position that he wanted to make them himself at a pace that would ensure each one was what he expetcted it to be. I guess its the difference between manufacturer and craftsman, but I do understand the frustration...

Please, anyone of you have any experience with Syrah and Berning ZH270?. I plan to put the Merlin's BAM between them. Thank you very much.

No but I have a Sarah on order and expect to receive by....well Mick can't exactly tell me but maybe 2 months or less, I hope. I also have the VSM's and zh270.

I heard the Syrah with the Berning on Acoustat 1+1 electrostats (Discovery sig wire I think, which could have been better...).

Both have similar characters: liquid but very clear and dynamic. Not overly-accurate type of clear, but naturally transparent. My feeling was that the combo would benefit from some NOS tubes (both were stock at the time) and better IC's that would inable translation of greater bloom and depth (not the Discovery's strong suit). Maybe an NBS or Purist between the two might be nice.

If you like the Merlins like Tubegroover, then you will like the Syrah very much. You can then balance the detail by the rolling of the 6SN7's in the pre: Brimars if you like more detail on transient; Ken Rad black glass for more lush presentation. The pre is very nuetral - like the Berning - in this regard, in the best sense of the word.

Tubegroover, quite inetrested in your opinion when you get the Supratek. Let us know please.

What has been folks experience plugging their Supratek into: a conditioner, direct into the wall, an isolation transformer, etc?