Preamp Deal of the Century

OK Supratek Syrah owners, what is your favorite tube compliment in your preamp? I am using Ken-Rad Black Glass 6SN7' Tung-Sol 5881's, Mullard 6GK5's, and Bendex Redbank 6106 as the rectifier tube. I am still using the stock tubes in the front of the phono stage. I am getting a lot of air between instruments with a lot of low level resolution with this setup. I sometimes switch out the Ken-Rads for 1940's Sylvania VT-231's or Tung-Sol round plates. How about the rest of you, what sounds best to your ear?

My tube compliment mirrors slowhands exactly, except for the regulation tubes. I use western electric 350b's in place of the tung sol 5881.

On the line stage portion of my Cortese I use Mullard CV181/ECC32. NOTE: These did not work in my friends Syrah for some reason. The power supply has Genalex Gold Lion KT66's and the Bendix 6106. I added Telefunken CCa's to the phono. Previously I was using a Mullard GZ37 rectifier but it didn't sound good after I put the Accuphase transport into my system. The Bendix really made a nice improvement with this transport but didn't work too well in my system when I had other transports.

The regulators tubes are a great place to tweak the sound. The improvement I can hear in my Cortese and a friends Syrah (who also uses the KR Black Glass) are worth the investment. That said, I am considering buying Ecclectique's 350b's! :)

The TS 5881's are okay but actually seem a bit dark and muffled to me these days.

Recently I have been playing with Svetlana KT88's, GEC KT88's, TungSol black plate 6550's, GE 6550's, RCA metal 6L6 and some others in the Cortese (and Syrah) but right now, the Genalex Gold Lions fit my system the best.

Slowhand, I'd recommend trying as many 6L6 type tubes as you can get your hands on.

When I first got my Sauvignon I quizzed Mick on the acceptable tube substitutes. He told me not to use the 6550's or KT88's as voltage-regulators. I never asked why.

Jazzdude - thanks for mentioning that. I wonder why Mick suggested to not use 6550/KT88 as voltage regulators. I've been told they are electronically the same as any 6L6 tube - it's just that they can take accept higher plate voltage.