Preamp Deal of the Century

Hi Powers,

I've got two v-caps in my Cabernet Dual as well as a whole bunch of Auricaps. Mick did say the V-Caps in mine are in the position that make the most difference. I'm also considering removing them as I don't find the Cabernet Dual as musical as the Sauvignon, I had earlier. A lot more detail yes, but maybe not as musically satisfying. The detail is probably more due to the 101D section of the pre-amp then the capacitors.

I would like to second Fiddler - in my cortese the V caps gave bass extension, detail and cleaned up the "fuzz" - I don't see why detail and musicality are mutualy exclusive -often when resolution is improved it exposes other challenges in the system - my experience is that vibration control and room treatment need to be developed at the same time as the rest of the system

It's clearly a matter of taste. I can see how what I like about the AuriCaps, someone else might relate to as fuzzier.

I think Mick started to use VCaps because customers asked him to. I didn't like the change and asked him what he thought. After he'd put on 400 hours, he disliked the VCaps and went back to the Auris. When I asked about Audience's new Teflon caps, Mick said they were expensive as sin and he'd only recommend those to people who don't care about money (which ain't me).

Just speaking for myself, I'm thrilled to be back in the AuriCap reservation. At the end of the day, it was a great exercise to hear just how much a simple swap of two parts (one per channel) can affect the outcome of a finely calibrated circuit.

I'm sending my VCaps back to Mick so he can use them for one of his customers who wants 'em -:)

When I ordered my Sauvignon Mick installed the V-caps. They certainly do not sound brittle and harsh IMS.
I can't compare, though I never had the Auricaps might be something to try in the future.
Everybody hears differently what somebody dislikes might be the other person cat's meow.
On second thought with the stock EH 6sn7's instead of some good NOS I rolled in, the sound is a little less smooth.

well...after many months of waiting, my cabernet dual has arrived and is burning in as i type. i'll reserve judgement on it's "sound", but what i'm hearing straight out of the box is VERY impressive. if i had pick one word to describe what i'm hearing right now, it would be detail. loads and loads of detail without the slightest hint of harshness or grain. lemme take two words and say effortless detail.

being the nitpicky person that i am, one thing i would prefer the cab dual have that it doesn't is gain controls for the 101D section. the 6H30 has a gain control between the tubes, but there is nothing for the 101D. not even the high-low switches next to the 6SN7's that my old chardonnay had. unfortunately, i sold my chardonnay so long ago, that any audible comparison between the two would be an exercise in futility. of course, this is only a matter of functionality and not sound quality. if i had my druthers...

as with anything bearing the supratek name, the fit and finish is beyond reproach. i still marvel at how mick can sell such visually and, more importantly, audibly beautiful preamps at such a low price point. packaging is extremely sturdy. it's almost impossible to pry the preamplifier from it's packaging. i was worried i would scratch the piano black finish pulling it out, but everything appears tip top.

one thing i noticed right away is that this thing is super high gain! paired with my yamamoto a-08s (using EML 45 solid plates), i can't turn the volume knob past the 8 o'clock position without blowing myself out of the room. standing next to my von schweikert dB99 SE speakers with nothing playing, i can hear some hiss and hum. however, i can't really hear it at my listening position and it doesn't interfere with the music at all. this may be due to positioning and/or vibration control. the cab dual is sitting on top of a salamander synergy stand with the yamamoto directly between the preamp and power supply.

well that's enough, perhaps i'll post some more later, but for now, i'm gonna go listen. and as always, a very special thank you and debt of gratitude to slowhand for introducing me (and us) to these amazing preamplifiers.