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
Wc65mustang, thank you for your opinion.

I am interested in Supratek products. Can you share some of your experience in comparison with other preamps you have owned, i.e. the Aesthetix Rhea? What other components are in your system?
The Grange digs much deeper into the music than the Rhea. In addition to Mundorf caps, I've rolled all of the tubes in the preamp and its' power supply. It is the finest piece of audio gear I've owned and/or heard in 40+ years.

Other components, Nottingham Space Deck, Hadcock 242 Silver, Zyx Airy 3 LO SB, Extremephono Limited Edition Phono Cable, Oracle CD-1000, Reimyo DAP-777, Stealth Sextet, Canary CA-339 mono blocks, Silverline Grande La Folia, Zu Varial, and Zu Ibis.

I hope that helps.
Nice system, Wc65mustang. For you to say the Grange rates higher than any other peice of gear in your system is saying quite a lot.

Could you please elaborate on the comment that the Grange "digs deeper" into the music. How does the tonal balance compare to the Rhea. Is one more neutral than the other?

Do you use any power conditioning or aftermarket power cords? If so, which one on the Grange?

Also, do you use any isolation products...especially on your Grange and analog source?

Yeah I forgot a couple things. I use an Audience adeptResponse conditioner. I've tried dozens of cords (literally) and I've sold off all of the super premium high price power cords and now use Zu Mother on everything. They may not be the absolute best power cord on the market but at the price, IMO, there is nothing close. Lastly, I don't know if the system benefits from all components using the same power cord but it sounds very sweet right now and I don't fix anything when it's not broken. The Zu cables (IC's speaker, and power) represent awesome value IMO.

2" maple platforms on the Grange, Oracle, and Reimyo. 1" granite platforms on the amps. The turntable sits on a Neuance platform, is suspended by chains, and hangs from the ceiling to eliminate all vibration.

Now the Rhea. An an overview I found the Rhea a little dark. Even with some tube rolling it was never particularly dynamic and didn't image nearly as well as the Grange. Lastly, the Grange separates the instruments better than the Rhea. In jazz trios and quartets, each instrument is more clearly defined and articulated. The Grange is so musical it's scary. These words may not mean to you what I am trying to describe but it's the best I can do here. To be fair, I ran the Rhea through a Pass 2.5 so take this comparison FWIW. OTOH you can't beat the Rhea and Pass 2.5 for flexibility. They really are delights for couch potatoes.
Wc65mustang, I also use a Neuance shelf, although not suspended from the ceiling. It's a terrific product.

Thanks for your informative, helpful and pleasant comments.