Preamp Deal of the Century

Good news---the glare problem I've had with my Supratek Cortese preamp seems to have been eliminated. The preamp paid a visit to Kevin Covi, who told me he was certain he found the reason for the annoying overemphasis I was hearing in the mid to upper midrange. It appears his assessment was correct---a faulty operating RIAA capacitor in the phono stage. I got the unit back today, and after having listened to a number of my "test" records for assessing my system's sound, I found no evidence of the glare unless it was actually on the record. We all have our favorite listening test records, and are well aware of their positives and negatives. In the most constructive sense, what I've heard so far coincides with my previous listening experiences with these records before I had even purchased the Cortese. I'll need more time of course before I can safely feel I'm fully settled back into relaxed listening, but I'm certainly feeling I'm getting back on course. Thanks especially to those of you Audiogoners who, with your support, wished me well. And, of course, my considerable thanks to Kevin of Supratek.

Hello Opus88,

Glad to hear that things are back on track for you.

Opus,Good to hear.Lets hope that new capacitor change resolves it. That glare sure would of drove me over the bend.Kgturner did you recently put an order in for a Cabarnet Dual or do you have it now? Also,you have had your monos for awhile,anything new to report? Maril555 I understand you have a Cortese and apair of Mondeuse on order. Any word on delivery?

stiltskin:

still waiting on the cabernet dual. nothing to report on the malbecs per se. i think i mentioned it before, but the malbecs are very unlike any tube amp i've ever used. they aren't particular warm, romantic, or colored, but they're not sterile and uninvolving like some solid state amps i've used. they are essentially the bridge that joins tubes to solid state.

Hi Kgturner, The info on Micks site for the Cabernet Dual is very interesting.Looking forward to your impressions.