Preamp Deal of the Century

Clipsal and V21,

My bad, the previous post/response was for V21.

Clipsal, can you further describe your Cabernet version. I was under the impression that in the most recent version of the Cabernet Dual, the 6sn7s drive both the 6H30 and the 101 stages. Is the bass bloat you describe in the 6h30 or the 101 portion?

Powers

Many thanks for the info on the 6F6 types I will try and get a pair to compare. I have just fitted a pair of old Brimar 6L6G tubes into my Chardonnay and will see how they sound. No idea how they test but all I know is that they work.

I am still hoping someone here can offer me a Bendix 6106 as there seems to be a general consensus that this is the best rectifier to use. I have noticed that when I switch on, the tubes on the pre light up almost instantaneously though I thought that the Mullard GZ33 was supposed to be a slow start rectifier.

Hi Powers,

You are correct in my Cabernet Dual, the 6sn7s drive both the 6H30 and the 101 stages. The bass bloat occurs with the 101D section with WE350B as I'm only using the 101D section.

The Sovtek KT66 is not bad, just a little etchy with a little less depth than the WE350B

The Sylvania 6F6G I have is the standard "G" version with a black base and a silvery top

Powers, do you use the Dual ?

Sorry V21, I have three friends who both want my Bendix as I have two of them.

Cheers

Clipsal,

The 101 stage of the Cab Dual is best voiced for midrange and above while the 6H30 stage is optimal for low frequencies. (The right tools for the right job when biamping.) The 101 is not a stellar tube at low frquencies and maybe what you are experienceing is the 101's bass weekness. The 350b is a very linear tube and perhaps it accentuates the 101's inabilities in the bass department. Try the swapping the 350b with the KT66 and the EH 5881 while listening to the low frequency with the 6H30 stage. Any differences??

You can also try a Kenrad VT-231 in the driver seat...they always give something special to the bass. (at least in the Chardonnay)....Then of course maybe all this does not translate to the Cabernet Dual circuit (I hope not). Have fun and find what you like!

As a former Sauvignon owner, I would love to hear your impressions of your new Cab. How does it compare? What prompted your move up the 'food chain'?

BTW, Santa brought a Cab Dual and its burning-in as I write. The stock Sovtek and EH tubes will be the first to go!! ... you beat me to the punch. :)

Enjoy the Magic!

I like the new Cabernet Dual. It's quite different to the Sauvignon. The 101D imparts a holographic image which outclasses the Sauvignon and the top end is simply sublime.

I decided to go for the Dual, simply because I felt I had hung on too long with the Sauvignon. I had the old one for about 3 years prior.

I tried the Ken Rad Black Glass VT-231 JAN CKR-6SN7GT VT-231 in the Dual and am very impressed. This baby packs a large wallop in the bass department and is not at all wolly and flabby in my current setup. The Ken Rads also have a little more body in the mid-range.

One of my friends was commenting that he felt there was a small hole in the mid-range that shut out some parts of the vocal frequency range and made many of the vocals to sound a little recessed (eg. similar depth in presentation to the instruments). This could be due to the room I think, but the Ken Rads may have rectified this issue somewhat for the time being. I'll let you know when my Audiophile buddy comes over again.

My current set of speakers is the WHT PR-1 (http://www.whtspeakers.com), which are a pair of 2-way horn loaded ribbons. This explains why I'm only running one half of the pre-amp at the moment. The 101D section is connected to PR-1 completely. Even though the speakers are bi-wireable, it would not make sense to connect the ribbon tweeter to the 101D and the mid-range/woofer to the 6H30.

I'm planning to pick up the matching WHT active subwoofer and connect that directly to the 6H30 section using the RCA inputs/outputs. This should hopefully rectify the situation, and will keep my fingers crossed.