New Supratek design and preamp!!!
There hasn't been a" new" Supratek preamp for quite some time.
The DHT models have been the mainstay of the product range for a long time, starting with the 101D, 300B/45/PX4, and lately the 4P1L versions.
I also did some custom preamps with the rare 71A and 801A tubes
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A long time ago (30 years!) Supratek preamps were based around the the 6SN7 tube, a triode which could arguably be called the perfect preamplifier tube
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Despite gravitating towards the DHT tube's I continued to have had a very soft spot for this tube, and have always had a 6SN7 preamp in my arsenal , and continued through the years to build 6SN7 preamps, alongside the DHT preamps, for those who wanted them.
There is nothing really new in preamp design, we have better components to use, we can mix tube technology with solid state design, but in essence all the claims for "new" designs are just variations on a theme.
Breakthroughs in sound quality now come from finding the right combinations of all the available design and component choices. Its a little like alchemy , find the right synergy of all the combinations and you might make gold!
I couldn't say how many 6SN7 circuits I have built over the years. In conjunction with my friend Kevin Covi's design and simulation skill , and my own design and building experience, I'd say it would possibly be over a hundred circuits.
It's hard to build a bad 6SN7 circuit, it's a very good tube with a lovely sound .In its most basic preamp configuration, it has high-ish output impedance , which restricts drive ability, and can give a tone which some call "tube or valve" sound.
The Supratek preamps have always used designs which give low output impedance , and with the in-built power supply regulators, can drive most power amplifiers, even multiples of amps in active systems.
Supratek preamps are always designed to be very accurate, fast and clean. Even the DHT preamps , while having the DHT sense of musicality were always accurate.
Many tube preamps these days are designed with conventional, 1950's style circuits that are are more tone control than accurate preamp.
This last year I've put together a 6SN7 preamp that achieves every goal I've wanted - its very accurate, has lots of drive , is amazingly transperant and as resolving as anyone could wish for.
It truly is a window into the music , so many times I've sat down to listen for a little while, and a complete album later gratified to hear and enjoy it as if for the first time.
It has the musical tone of a DHT preamp, with the resolution and accuarcy of the very best , and very expensive, solid state preamplifier.
I built this pre using all of my experience and knowledge of 6SN7 tubes, design technique and component choice.
It uses very high tech solid state anode loading, Magnequset and Lundahl transformers and chokes.
With the Supratek immense power supply , copper chassis, tube regulators and all the tricks o f 30 years of preamplifier construction, I have built a preamplifier that is simply the best I have heard.
Somehow it seems to make the very best DHT preamp sound a little veiled and un-exciting.
Now sound quality is very subjective and some will still prefer the sound of a well designed DHT preamp, but the compromises of DHT- microphonics, noise levels do not exist in this new 6SN7 design.
I have half a dozen preamps, both 6SN7 based and DHT , and whilst I enjoy all of them, I find it very hard to listen the DHT preamps now.
No mistake, the DHT preamps are excellent preamps of the highest sound quality. The new 6SN7 design is simply better.
I addition to 6SN7 tubes, this pre can use Russian 6H8C , CV181, and with a convertor base the 6F8G/VT99 tubes.
As of the 1st July 2017 Supratek will be returning to full time production of preamps, and I expect to be building mostly the 6SN7 preamp.
The preamp pictured is a Dual Cabernet . It has the new 6SN7 circuit ( in this case CV181 tubes at back) and a 6H8C/6H30 circuit, both independent but working off a master volume. Useful for bi-amplifying, or active application.
Also available as Single Cabernet- just the 6SN7 circuit.
Also the Cortese- 6SN7 circuit with tube phono stage.
