Preamp Deal of the Century

Slowhand you must try NOS tubes with the Berning along with the cryoed 6jn6 outputs along with the custom ERS mods through Allan Baghan. If you are just listening to a stock unit, you ain't heard nothing yet! The Berning is very tweekable and its performance can be much improved. Its level of clarity is definitely top shelf.

For the 12AT7's I have tried the Brimars, Tung Sols and just installed Amperex Bugle Boy's French made and have a set of Telefunken's, not diamond plate. I really like the Tung Sols, more air, bloom and richness. The Brimars have the detail but are not quite as "musical" to my ears. The Amperex Bugle Boys I really need to listen to more and the Telefunkens are waiting in the wings.

The dynamics of the music with this combo is at times uncanny, like a horn system on some music. I've never heard the Merlin's come so alive. The presence on a great recording can make you almost believe you are there. This pre-amp is something quite special on an absolute level. It is hard to believe that this level of performance can be realized at the price. What a deal!

As an aside, my wife, who is not an audiophile spent 1 hour glued to the seat listening the 2nd night I had this pre. This is a first folks and we've been married 15 years and I've been into the "hi-end" hobby before we met. She is amazed at the naturalness of the music. I suppose that is the best adjective to describe the Supratek, It just gets you closer to the performance, the subtle things that make music come alive. Words can't describe it, only listening will. It makes you realize that in designing components there is definitely a large element of art otherwise more components would sound this "right".

While I think the phono stage is excellent and it is what everyone says, I am utterly amazed at the line stage.

Tubegroover, I actually have the cryoed output NOS tubes and Brimmer 12at7's. They came with the amp when I bought it. I have been so blown away by the sound of the amp with the stock tubes that I am holding off on installing the NOS until later. What differences in sound did you notice from the ERS kit? On the subject of the Supratek, I agree with you, I love the phono stage of the Syrah, but am very surprised at just how good the line stage is. As much as I love vinyl and the sound of it, I will never be without a CD player. There is just too much great Jazz fusion music that I am discovering that cannot be had on vinyl. I will get around to installing the NOS tubes in the Berning later on. It gives me something to look forward to. I am told that GE 5865 5 star tubes are great in place of the stock 12au7's. Do you know where I can get any? I am in the process of buying some Mullard 6GK5's for my Syrah now. I would like to get some WE417's for the phono if I can find them.

Tubegroover, let me know how the Amperex Bugle Boys sound compared to the Brimers and Tung Sols.

Slowhand the 5965's GE "5 Star" NOS Platinum 1% pair 1970's (equivalent to 12AV7's) can be purchased from Brendan at Tubeworld.com. He seems to have found a cache of these. Very nice tubes. I have since replaced with Tung Sols but plan to put the GE's back in with the various 12AT7's I have on hand. The mixing matching possibilities are seemingly endless but it is the only way to find the magic that just "gets it right".

So far as the ERS mod goes, what is most notable is how much quieter or blacker things become, a lower noise floor. The result of elimination of RFI which you aren't aware of until its gone. The sound is so much more relaxed and effortless yet at the same time more resolving and dynamic. The effect of this change allowed me to actually *feel* the bass from the VSM speakers which is a first. Of all the mods and tweeks I've done to the amp including Still Points and cryoed tubes,upgrading coupling caps, this one is definitely the most significant, a must.

Asa mentions a few things above concerning the Berning and Supratek combo which I would tend to very much agree with, it is imperative that the right tubes be used. The Berning could be misconstrued by some, those that have listened to SET OTL amps, yours truly included, to be a bit lean in comparison. Actually it is lean compared to a Joule (what isn't?) but which one would be more preferable? The question is rhetorical and of course taste would dictate which would be best, both are great amps but are offered as contrasts in a direct comparison of different schools of thought in how reproduced music sounds. The real point here is that mixing and matching tubes with the Berning can tailor the sound more to a particular taste and balance. I doubt that the Amperex are going to best the Tung Sols so would consider the latter mandatory for this amplifier based on its tonal balance. I will keep you posted on the Amperex when I get the chance to evaluate extensively. Too many changes at once including evaluation of speaker cables. It sure seems the Supratek is a great candidate for extensive tweeking as well.

Need some more info on the Chardonnay...

1. Does anyone have a picture of it? Can you share it (or, if you prefer, send me by e-mail)? What about the remote, is there any picture avaliable?
2. The goal is to match it with a Plinius SA-102 power amp. I am concerned (since I am not able to listen to it) with how they work together. The Plinius specs are Input Sensitivity: 0.8V RMS for rated output at 1kHz. Input Impedance: 47k Ohms. Would like to have your comments on this.

Thanks!