Preamp Deal of the Century


If anyone is looking for a true "World Class" preamp at a very fair price..heed my advice. I just recieved a Supratek Syrah preamp that was hand built by Mick Maloney in Western Australia, and it is absolutely beautiful! This preamp is the best deal you will ever find. I would put it up against any preamp out there for both looks and sound. Price? $2500 for the Syrah (includes Killer Phono stage). Not into phono? Try the Chardonney line stage for $2100. Don't get me wrong, I am not associated with this company. I am just a very happy owner! This preamp is VERY dynamic, yet liquid. It conveys the sound of music better than any other preamp that I have ever heard! You can check out the Supratek website at www. cantech.net.au
slowhand
Artar1 - "The Supratek is no less accomplished in presenting musical truth, but does so with greater sophistication and less austerity."

Probably a very astute conclusion. Especially considering you haven't had the benefit of an audition. Tube-rolling will allow you to tweak the sound more to your liking. There are 4 tube types to roll in the Supratek linestages. Only one in the First Sound, the 6922 I believe. The First Sounds 0A2 regulator cannot be rolled, or so I have been told.

Waltersalas has the Supratek Syrah and had the First Sound PD for a while also. I think he was able to do some side-by-side listening comparisons. You might contact him for more info.
For those Supratek fans, Mick's Burgandies have arrived and after some modifications (at his dierctions) they are staggering in their transparency, bandwidth, inner (micro) relosution, and power (in the sense of conveying the "authority" of the music). I'd been waiting for these mono-blocks for more than 4 months (we've all been there with Supratek). They are simply gorgeous! Mick's beautiful wood chasises with matt black finished top plates and transformer housings. I am driving them unbalanced from my latest version of the Cortese. By the way, if you don't have the version with the 12B4A's in the output stage, send your unit back to Mick and have it modified. Incredible improvement in low end performance,in extention, dynamics, and texture, without scarificing any of the other atrtributes we've come to love. I believe he is charging $500 for the upgrade.
To Ecclectique!!!!

Can the 6V6 (Kenrad VT-107 I think with metal body) be a replacement of the 6L6/5881 tubes?

Thanks!

Abe
Well this is rich. Now Audiogoners are giving reviews talking about the subtle differences in sound between preamps they have never heard because of "vicarious experiences" they have had as a result of reading this thread!!!