I decided to upgrade my old Chenin to new Cortese, lets call it SE, have contacted Mick. He redesigned all his preamps in 2010 and claimed that new designs have even better transparency and music involvement. It was to be 4 months waiting period, so I have signed up. Unfortunately, for some reasons I have got Cortese SE after 10 long months and countless reminders, there was a time that I did not believe anymore that I will ever going to see it. To give justice to Mick at the end he has given me 10% discount to reimburse me for long and frustrating waiting. In that time I went from my CDP Audio Aero Capitole mkII directly to Claytons monoblocks (using Thiel 3.6), very transparent sound with big soundstage, great resolution, I only wished for more harmonics in the mids and more dynamics. But finally Cortese SE arrived After 2 weeks of burning time I have given it a try (with stock tubes): big bass, very flat soundstage, a lot of slam.
This is not what I was hoping for, I have given it 2 more weeks of burn in time, nothing changed. So I have exchanged stock Russian unnamed 6l6 tubes with EH cryoed 6l6 and some cheap unnamed Russian rectifier with black base Phillips Miniwatt gz34. Pretty serious change: much deeper soundstage, bass lost its exaggerated bloom, better transparency, but still no a transparency which I have got when I was going direct. I was less disappointed but still not thrilled. So when after 2 weeks of burning time and not much of a change I swapped Philips black base gz34 with cryoed Bendix 6106. O my .. this was not a change it was different preamp altogether.
Preamp from different league I must add. Finally sound was not dark anymore like with Philips it lost bass bloom completely and finally has opened up. Resolution was pornographic for the lack of better word, transparency simply spooky. Much better then going direct, I do not know how it is possible but it is the case. I remember Chenin sounding slightly better with Bendix then with Philips but difference was subtle, not anymore. New Cortese should be sold with Bendix, without it IMHO, it simple does not sing. I have borrowed from friend two runs of Tara Zero Gold and Omega speaker cable (to be sure that IÂm not limiting it anyway), simply unbelievable resolution and transparency (actually I have heard better one only from Jadis). What is interesting with Chenin my cheap turntable Realistic Lab 420 with Empire 9 cartridge was much better sounding then my AA Cap. Now gap is closed, I do not really hear my entry level turntable sounding any better. CDP now sounds really alive, new line stage is really something, real world contender. To hit audiogazm I need more harmonics in the mids and more slam, more PRAT, but I have not changed driver tubes yet, still using stock Russian Tung-Sol provided by Mick.
I will keep you posted.
I still cannot neither believe nor understand how stupid rectifier can have such profound effect on sound, but with Cortese case it does.
