So what is happening with Supratek? We'll I'm still here and I'm still busily building preamps, although lately it has been mostly custom builds for long term customers.
I've also been busy upgrading older Supratek preamps to my latest DHT designs, and from the happy responses, the upgrades are very worthwhile.
Despite the increase in digital sound quality over the last 5 years, a very high quality tube preamp is still the best way to get the most from your system, especially if you value realistic sound-staging and imaging, the most important attributes for realism and musicality in your system.
The Supratek designs are leading edge tube technology- I'm happy to use a blend of tube and solid state componentry to ensure that performance is not only objectively superior on the test bench, but subjective sound quality must also be very pleasing to the ear.
The real test of an electronic audio device is its long term adaption in a system. It is most pleasing to me that most of the Supratek preamps are still with their original owners, some going back more than 25 years.
Audio can be a fickle pastime, but there is something about a good tube preamp that is ultimately very satisfying , and very hard to live without, once the realisation of the transformational character of these rare devices has pervaded the senses.
I build mostly Directly Heated Triode preamps these days.
Supratek released the first commercially available DHT preamp (with 300B tubes) many years ago,
I've used 45, PX4, 101D and many other DHT triodes in the Supratek line-up.
The last 5 years I've mostly used the Russian 4P1L triode connected, as it perhaps one of the finest tolerance directly heated tubes ever made. No need to match these tubes, they are all eerily within the closest specs, and sound very good.
Lately, I see other commercial builders are starting to use this tube - you cant keep a good tube down!
The DHT sound is one of vividness and immediacy and musicality.
Of course, all the Supratek preamps have remarkable technical performance , with excellent test bench performance .
There is no tube "romance" or "lushness" with a Supratek preamp , which is essentially coloration from poor design and componentry which results in the inabilty of the preamp to drive the following power amplifier with accuracy and "life".
Its quite difficult to build a preamplifier to match all the different types of power amplifiers available.
There is a huge variance in topologies (tube and solid state), gain structures and drive requirements.
A tube power amp is relatively easy to drive, a 3 way active solid state system not so . (and one of my favourite ways to drive a speaker) .
All the Supratek preamps now have a wide range of adjustments to ensure that they will drive any power amplifier to its finest performance.
They are unique, and always have been, but now are even more adaptable to any system and ears.
I'm now building The Supratek preamps in the same or similar configurations I use in my own custom systems, it's different to what's available commercially, but these configurations can be used for any
system configuration, from a simple Single Ended line stage to a complex fully active 3 way system.
Transperancy, musicality is never compromised.
Starting at the output, the tube output stage can be switched to either capacitor or transformer coupling.
Transformer coupling "transforms" the tubes output impedance , and it's level of "drive" (or power) , lowering the output impedance and increasing the drive, usually by a level of 4 or more.
Have an active system that uses 3 solid state amps? A typical tube preamp will not like this at all, no problem for a Supratek.
The gain is also lowered , which can be useful for signal to noise ratios.
Capacitor coupling is simpler, has more gain and can suit some systems and ears as well as , sometimes better, than transformer coupling.
Most of the Supratek preamps use a 6SN7 driver stage ahead of the DHT. DHT's are typically low gain so it's useful to have extra gain available if needed, and the 6SN7 and it's Russian namesake the 6H8C are one of the best IDHT (indirectly heated triode) tubes available.
The 6SN7 gain stage is switchable , so it can be switched in and out, while the preamp is playing , to find the best gain structure and sonics to suit the system. And used in conjunction with the trans/cap switch you have a range of gain/ drive structures to suit any system.
In essence a Supratek preamp can be 3 preamps in one , its a heap of fun being able to have a different sonic flavour when the need or mood arises.
There is no other preamplifier like the Supratek DHT , and it will transform your system.
Here's some pix of a 2005 Supratek preamp just modified to use the DHT 4P1L tube.
The 6L6 regulator tubes have been moved to the power supply and the 6SN7/4P1L tubes go on the preamp chassis.
The 4 phono tubes and phono stage remains unchanged.
This worked out very well, and I'm sure the owner will be very pleased.
Later. And this is what he said: "...it's like you are much more in touch with the music (like a ESL speaker), it's much more direct.
Images, depth of image, dynamics and speed are all improved but still musical and natural sounding."
I'm planning to contribute to this blog a bit more regularly.
Keep a lookout for a post on vintage speakers, and the amazing Supravox 215 field coil fullrange speaker system.
I'm also planning to do something about my other passions - motorcycling and it's obscure relationship to audio, and men's health- healthy body, healthy mind.
