Preamp Deal of the Century

I would like to thank all the contributors to this thread. Based on your observations, and friendly repartee, I ordered a Chenin, and just received it this weekend, and all I can say is, WOW – what superb esthetics, and glorious music.

As far as I’m concerned, the never ending discussion of whether a CD Player connected direct to an amp is better than a pre-amp in between, has been resoundly answered in the negative! In the case of the Chenin, and my system, there is NO comparison versus direct and Chenin intervention. It’s an understatement to say that inserting the Chenin between my Wadia 861 and CAT JL-1’s created quite an improvement -- dynamics were improved, more detail was heard, the soundstage was better (both depth and breadth), and PRAT and musicality were improved.

Vocals were a prime example of the improvements wrought by the Chenin. They were found to be more “fleshed” out – i.e., they sounded more like a human was behind the voice. Pat Barber’s and Alison Krauss’s vocals were both more musical and detailed -- changes in inflection and breathing were easier noticed without the added glare that sometimes comes with increased detail. And the really good news is that and all of these positives were heard right off of the truck, and out of the box, with essentially no run-in!

So, in the case of my system, by adding more electronics, and cables, I’ve added a layer of simplicity. Yep, it sure is counter-intuitive, but the Chenin sounds better than no preamp at all, and whether that means it’s the pre-amp to end all pre-amps, I ‘m not sure! What it does mean is that it’s a darn good pre-amp, and one that adds, rather than deducts, and as a line-stage, it’s a real keeper.

However, with that said, my primary reason for buying the Chenin was not for its line stage, but for its phono capabilities. Wanting to get back into vinyl after a couple decade hiatus, I thought the Chenin would provide a good avenue for doing this. If it improved my CD playback all the better, but since it is doing so with such aplomb, I’m looking even more forward (if that’s possible) to the receipt of a new Galibier Quattro Turntable, and Tri-Planar Tonearm, and dusting off all the albums I’ve accumulated since the 1960’s.

Thanks again to everyone for the time spent discussing this fine pre-amp, and to Mick for catering to us “Audiophools” (he must be one himself), the Supratek Chenin is truly a wonderful product, and a great find.

Mrmb- You're in for a real treat with the phono stage, and for me the icing was the ability to change cart loading on-the-fly! Let the tube-rolling begin!! Although not until break-in is finished.

Mrmb,

The phono stage of my Chenin is the best thing that ever happened to my vinyl set up! Less cables, more flexibility, better sound purity, you name it.

Now instead of worrying how to improve my system, I am accumulating tons of LP's!

Congratulations! With equipment like yours, the Chenin will be equally at home and then some. Like Swampwalker says, let the unit break in first before tube rolling! In the phono stage, I suggest either the Sylvania Gold Brand 6C4's, RCA black plate 6C4's, or the Tungsol Black Plates 6C4's and Siemens 6922's! With any of this combination in my system, the sound is simply divine!

Cheers!

Mine is on order. Mick is now using 6J6 instead of 6C4 in the phono stage as he says the 6C4 valves are harder to find these days (at least in Australia). He did say, though, that I could use 6C4s (I guess it's a direct replacement, but the 6C4 is a 1/2 12au7 tube and the 6j6 is a dual triode tube historically used as an oscillator). Is that what you are doing? Did your Chenin come with the 6J6/6922 phono stage complement or do you have the original 6C4/6922 combo?

Thanks.

Stephen D.

Stephen,

I do have the original 6C4/6922 combo. But I think the phono preamp section can be re-wired to use 6J6 as well. In my case, I am very happy and does not look into that avenue at all. Besides, 6C4 is not that hard to find here. I also found that even the Motorola 6C4's are good sounding in my set-up. I won an auction at e-bay where I got 12 pieces NOS for $15.00.

Even the very nice sounding, I have a pair, GEC 6C4 at e-bay (I missed the auction!) can be had at $36.00 a quad. That should last a while.

For the 6922's, I am still clinging to my claim that them are not the "money" tube in the Chenin phono. Maybe just me, but I rolled several 6922/6DJ8 like Tele,Amperex, Sylvanias, etc. and even 7308's and not convinced with the results especially for the price I paid for them(although I have Siemens 6922 on the preamp right now).

To each his own, I guess!

Cheers, I bet you will like the preamp!