Preamp Deal of the Century

Well, I was only trying to pass on the design of a product device which solves the basic problems that most of the thread, Supratek owners spoke of, not simply disagree with someone else. This is a device which is offered free, just for the cost of goods necessary, with no gain to me. Anyone who wants to try it please do so. Or if you don't, you can pass. I try not to follow Audiogon members around and dispute them just for the sake of controversy, looking foolish, making incorrect statements along the way. The Audiotweak still has not answered Tubegroovers questions regarding his incorrect comparison of audio gear and its dynamic output, versus the dynamic output of original instruments,(apparently tied to a lead device) or my question as to how the output dynamic output of an amp can be changed (lessened according to him through the elimination, or I should say amelioration) of microphonics and rf. I am sure we would all like to hear about that. 21st Century application of physics, and all the wonderful scientific discoveries since Newtonian Physics, can't make those nonsensical statements make sense.
With our current technologies, Mick's preamp still suffers from microphonic problems, I only offered one potentially decent solution, for anyone who choses to try. And the private response has been overwhelming.
Good listening for all those who appreciate my effort to make the Supratek sound better.
Larry R. Staples

I've been following the latest posts to this thread with great interest. It seems like Lrsky has come up with a neat way to dampen a component however... I think the microphonics issues with some Supratek's would not be solved by a platform. Perhaps I should explain.

First of all, most stock Supratek's are decoupled from the surface they rest on because Mick uses rather soft feet. This eliminates the likelihood that vibration energy would/could be transferred away from the chassis.

The chassis on the Supratek Chardonnay's / Syrah's is rather light. Inside the chassis is a lot of VERY STIFF silver wire which tends to vibrate when the chassis is tapped.

That, paired with the fact that most Supratek users have installed OLD NOS tubes in a preamp - is the real cause of the problem. Furthermore, preamps typically require higher grade tubes and I bet that many in use are simply not good enough or not at the quality level they should be. MAYBE 1 NOS tube in 10 is remotely "preamp grade" I've found.

Anyhow.. the tubes are the transducer for the vibration running through the chassis and the worse the tubes, the worse the microphonics.

I've had the best success with my Supratek(s) by removing the feet altogether and placing them on a heavy wooden surface. Especially the Power Supply! Nice improvement!

The Dampening of the chassis which was done by my technician actually helped the microphonic problem by preventing the transmission of the vibration within the unit itself. I doubt a platform under a decoupled (rubber foot) Supratek would have similar results.

Good listening for all of those who appreciate my efforts and many others on Audiogon to make the Supratek and for that matter all audio reprodution devices sound better. I am not the only one out here who is a proponenent of the attributes of resonant energy transfer delivered by Sistrum products. Remove your pieces from the dead lead and rubber. Direct couple so you can hear the music. There will be no argument Larry when you try the denial in your own system but do so before you sell off the parts you know. Tom

It has been my experience that when I have removed the rubber feet from a chassis and placed the component directly on a Sistrum platform there was an immediate and noticeable improvement of sound. Rubber and other dampeners I feel impede the exodus of resonant energy away from what we all wish to preserve and enhance..Tom

BWhite,
Your last comments about removing the feet is very telling.
The platform works even with the Gryphon, which has massive sorbothane type feet in the front, and a tip toe type rear foot. This, as well as comments made in email conversations with Flemming Rasmussen of Gryphon, has made it clear that he takes vibrational isolation seriously.
The platform is curious in that it shunts the energy within a given product into suspended mass of about (and I forget the exact weight)80#. When you mentioned that you removed the feet and added mass this tells me that the suspended mass of the platform would probably work just as it does on all pieces like this.
Conrad Johnson, suspends their circuit board inside of their higher end preamps, floating them, so that they are not coupled to the outer shell of the preamp. The platform helps this preamp tremendously, even though they do this.
It may be worth your looking into the platform. Everything that I have tried (Preamps, both solid and tube, amps, solid and tube, integrateds, cd players, d/a converters) have been improved by the use of this. As I have warned, it is noxious to make, and the lead presents some health cautions and issues, but the results can, and have been remarkable. Certainly for someone handy it is worth the venture. We spend multiples of this with much smaller improvements. With a product that has the propensity for microphonics this, I believe is made to order.
Laughingly I tell people that the first experiment of this platform was done using an old Harman Kardon Turntable, circa 1985. The table was on a wall mount to decouple it from floor vibrations as much as possible. At that time we used the little platform @30# or less. The table immediately sounded less like an HK and more like a Linn Sondek. OK, OK not that good, but a transformation nontheless. I listened to Marty Robbins singing a song , I think, 'Among My Souveniers', maybe, but the exact title excapes me. But I was completely and utterly surprised. It works! Sort of like Young Frankenstein, "He lives, he lives!" Funny now but also fun to think back on. If you would like more detailing just email me privately. I have never been ceased to be amazed at this thing.
Thanks and...
Good Listening.
Larry