I haven't built a Chardonay for quite some time, as I've been very busy building LCR Cortese preamps.
The latest version of the Chardonnays are loaded with features- remote volume, XLR and RCA in and outs, adjustable gain and with a choice of finishes.
They employ much of the circuitry of the more expensive Suprateks- tube rectification and tube shunt regulation , the dynamic sound of high gain 6SN7 tubes , and the gain can also be adjusted to suit any system.
Output impedance is very low and they can drive any or multiple power amps.
At $US2000 for the basic model they are surely the best value in high end audio, as they have repeatedly been shown to embarrass preamps costing over $20,000.
I've built the Chardonnay to be as rugged and reliable as possible; in 30 years time they will be as good as new, perhaps a new rectifier tube every 5 years and other tubes every 10, although there are plenty of twenty year old Chardonnays with original tubes.
I recently got an email from a senior writer from one of the very top end hi fi magazines who had just purchased a 15 year old Chardonnay - he congratulated me on its sound and thought it one of the best preamps he'd heard.
