Preamp Deal of the Century

Ecclectique,

Thanks for appreciating what modest equipments I have. I admire your Westminster speaker sir and the rest of your system as well.

Back to the issue, it is either you are a prophet or you have some kind of gift to predict the future. Let me explain.

After I submitted my previous post, I left with my kids to visit their grandparents. I also left the cd player "on". To tell you the truth, I am a little bit distraught/shaken since the preamp is nowhere near sounding like many of the users reported it to sound and is a big investment for me and I cannot go any further beyond that financially.

I'ts been a good 9 hours since we returned home and what do you know! The preamp sounds very different! It is starting to show its real "character" to say the least. Now it is one O'clock Pacific time and I cannot get enough playing my cd's and LP's. The Chenin is opening up bigtime! I think I logged in about 40 hours now(since I first got it)and the change or improvement is undeniably audible. Vocals are better than what I can remember and the overall balance is starting to find its places.
So I think my concern is not an issue anymore. I hope that it stays this way and just gets better in time.

BTW, I am using the Logans and my room is 12'x14'x8' and the speaker placement is optimal. It's been un-touched since I dialed the position in from my previous preamp. Does the new preamp mean that I have to experiment on the speaker position as well, or recheck it?

Also, I will heed your advice and stop changing/rolling tubes for now. You are right, it will just add to the confusion on situations like this. As for the rectifier, I only have the Mullard/Amperex GZ34 at hand. Is that the tube you are talking about? Since we are into tubes, I like to ask if you have a particular experience regarding the RCA 6L6GC tubes. At present, they are what I am using as regulators. I noticed that after an hour or so, there is some bluish hue that I can see from the walls of the tube. Anything less than an hour, the bluish hue are non-existent. Is this normal for these type of tube? Or are they being over driven(B+ too high)?

"Once it finds its focus... the tonal balance tweeks and tube rolling flavours suddenly become so much easier to voice in your room.Please, trust me on this, be patient and you will be rewarded."

I will do exactly what you pointed out. Thanks for helping me, I really appreciate it. Please pardon my ignorance for "crying wolf" prematurely. Wheewww! Foolish of me. I should have known better since I been reading this thread for two years now. As I had mentioned, this preamp is a big investment for me and sometimes, paranoia takes over when you noticed something new that does not compute with your expectations.

I will report back further observations if any. But I have a very strong feeling that most of it will just be praises for this fine preamp we are fortunate to own.
I am happy now.

Thanks again!

Hello Amandarae. Firstly, Congratulations on your supratek acquisition...you will be rewarded in due time! I am certainly no prophet sir,however... I have a sneaky suspician I may be able to somewhat guesstimate the outcome of your next 100 hours of seat time in that wonderfully [so called] humble rig of yours. Sir: Your past and present equipment choices speak volumes. Yes,that mullard/amperex gz34 is a great rectifier and the logical place to start your journey. Rectifiers can make or break any good amplifier especially in a system of such high resolution. The speed and transparency of an Electrostatic speaker is ruthlessly revealing and leaves nowhere to hide. I am a firm believer in getting the tonal balance correct first and foremost in any given room, one will find the rest of the presentation much easier to optimize to ones preferred flavour.Infact.. you may be fine tuning your speaker placement in due time once the supratek has found its voice as the stage of the preamp is almost holographic in comparison to your known references. Regarding the 6L6's and blue gas. Do not be concerned, as many output tubes will exhibit that characteristic,just be sure they test above 90% on a tester. If you have logged in around 40 hours... the rectifier swap should be somewhat noticeable now as the bass resolution of the supratek is world class by anybody's standards.Be prepared, as the astonishing clarity and focus of the supratek is really going to come into its own in the next 50 to 60 hours or so.You will find yourself spinning all those treasured old lp's into the wee hours of the morning only to discover that you never knew they were recorded so well. Enjoy! Stay tuned and check back in. Cheers David

Thanks David! I truly appreciate your effort in entertaining my inquiries and giving your own descriptions of your experienced (regarding the preamp) as a Supratek owner.

I will report back!

Abe,

You know you should be selling those 5881's here on the 'Gon. You could have made another Syrah owner very happy! And I can use them in the Audio Note too. Maybe I'll get lucky and win....

Joe

Joe,

Damn, If I only knew that you are looking for some. Is there a way to stop an auction at e-bay early?

ABe