GregSki Posted December 29, 2023 Posted December 29, 2023 Hi All hope everyone is having a good Xmas break despite the weather! I am looking for a preamp for my Luxman m 900u, currently driving Dynaudio Contour 20s and Rel sub. Im using ps audio DSD as dac,preamp. It sounds very good but from what I read hear a preamp would take it to the next level. I can’t afford the new 10x preamp and c900us are few and far between so am considering a tube preamp between $5 and 10K. I read good things about Supratek preamps, ARC albeit ref series is a bit pricey? Does anyone have experience with Supratek preamps or other preamps which would be a good match for Luxman? Thanks!
Al.M Posted December 29, 2023 Posted December 29, 2023 Supratek is great new from their website $3-5k will get you a world class well rounded sound, micro detail, lush, musicality, deep tuneful bass, imaging etc. lookup all the past reviews and comments. Mention what amp you have to them when ordering one so they can match it up volume pot attenuation gain wise.
Guest Posted December 29, 2023 Posted December 29, 2023 There is an owners thread Years ago, I decided against a Supratek because of its messy wiring, which is its secret sauce. No one, other than the designer, will be able to repair one, but it does not seem to bother owners.
Gremrock Posted December 29, 2023 Posted December 29, 2023 You get a lot of options with a supratek and it’s worth asking mick about them. He will probably recommend the 6sn7 as it’s probably the best all round circuit but if you want warmth in the system the pre is a great place to add it, particularly if you have a big solid state amp already. I had the 6sn7 Cortese, loved the sound of the 4p1l cortese I borrowed (older model) and always wanted something with a 2a3/300b type gain stage. in the end I’ve now got a little 300b integrated so kind of where I wanted to go in less boxes. ignore the haters, the supratek have an almost cult following and if you don’t love it, you’ll have no trouble moving it on without losing a rediculous amount, the wait time on new is enough to sway lost “would be new” buyers. keep the box and mick will do free repairs as long as he is able to 1
GregSki Posted December 30, 2023 Author Posted December 30, 2023 Thanks Gremrock. I think TWH member had 300b supratek preamp in his system and he loved it. It’s good to have pros and cons. I will read the thread that Snopy8 recommended. I think Dick Olsher from Sterephile uses supratek too as well as other preamps like Primaluna 400. The fact he knows of and uses Supratek which is definitely not mainstream anything is one of the reasons I’m interested in supratek.
Ihearmusic Posted December 30, 2023 Posted December 30, 2023 (edited) 10 hours ago, Snoopy8 said: There is an owners thread Years ago, I decided against a Supratek because of its messy wiring, which is its secret sauce. No one, other than the designer, will be able to repair one, but it does not seem to bother owners. I have repaired Supratek amps and I am not the designer. If one knows tube amplifiers, one can repair them. Solid State repair folks would probably struggle an bit. And yes, they are a great amplifier regardless of model. Edited December 30, 2023 by Ihearmusic 4 1 1
Addicted to music Posted December 30, 2023 Posted December 30, 2023 2 hours ago, Ihearmusic said: I have repaired Supratek amps and I am not the designer. If one knows tube amplifiers, one can repair them. Solid State repair folks would probably struggle a bit.. really? LOL!
Ihearmusic Posted December 30, 2023 Posted December 30, 2023 3 hours ago, Addicted to music said: really? LOL! Yes, really. Speaking from experience....... 1
Addicted to music Posted December 30, 2023 Posted December 30, 2023 5 hours ago, Ihearmusic said: Yes, really. Speaking from experience....... care to elaborate
georgehifi Posted December 30, 2023 Posted December 30, 2023 (edited) 19 hours ago, Ihearmusic said: Years ago, I decided against a Supratek because of its messy wiring, which is its secret sauce. No one, other than the designer, will be able to repair one, but it does not seem to bother owners. 19 hours ago, Ihearmusic said: I have repaired Supratek amps and I am not the designer. If one knows tube amplifiers, one can repair them. Not very confidently if they looked like this that was posted up by a member. Cheers George Edited December 31, 2023 by georgehifi 1 1 1
Addicted to music Posted December 30, 2023 Posted December 30, 2023 @georgehifi do you agree with this? 13 hours ago, Ihearmusic said: If one knows tube amplifiers, one can repair them. Solid State repair folks would probably struggle an bit..
georgehifi Posted December 30, 2023 Posted December 30, 2023 (edited) 5 hours ago, Addicted to music said: do you agree with this? "13 hours ago, Ihearmusic said: If one knows tube amplifiers, one can repair them. Solid State repair folks would probably struggle an bit" I would if I owned and built it, but I would not go near it if looked like that and I didn't own and build it. And that would reflect in a labor repair price being 3-4 x as much. But as far as a solid state repair man, not being able to repair tube gear https://ibb.co/x52FVsP This is how to build tube point to point wiring, and each unit would sound the same as the next. http://tinyurl.com/ysffeu92 Cheers George Edited December 31, 2023 by georgehifi 1
Gremrock Posted December 30, 2023 Posted December 30, 2023 Does every thread with supratek have to become a bashing on the product? the builder offers a lifetime warranty on the amps, has been building them the same for 30+ years and has very few actual problems. I had a Syrah that was 25+ and the only problem it had was someone who “knew better” changed the circuit which caused problems with the rectifier. Mick ended up rebuilding it to nearly current spec (as far as the old cabinet etc would allow) for nothing but the cost of freight and I was about the 5th owner. rather than attacking a product perhaps offering any kind of alternative option would be beneficial? I also like the consonance linear 1 for a valve pre, but no phono, and always wanted to try the coincident 101d, but these are hard to find. 9 1
La scala Posted January 1, 2024 Posted January 1, 2024 On 29/12/2023 at 3:36 PM, GregSki said: Hi All hope everyone is having a good Xmas break despite the weather! I am looking for a preamp for my Luxman m 900u, currently driving Dynaudio Contour 20s and Rel sub. Im using ps audio DSD as dac,preamp. It sounds very good but from what I read hear a preamp would take it to the next level. I can’t afford the new 10x preamp and c900us are few and far between so am considering a tube preamp between $5 and 10K. I read good things about Supratek preamps, ARC albeit ref series is a bit pricey? Does anyone have experience with Supratek preamps or other preamps which would be a good match for Luxman? Thanks! Your Lux will pair well and I am sure you’ll be delighted in your choice of a Supratek Pre pairing. The Supratek offered one of the most profound improvements I encountered in decades of component upgrades incl Tube preamps from ARC , McIntosh and Pass Labs ss. Happy 2024 5
Ihearmusic Posted January 1, 2024 Posted January 1, 2024 On 31/12/2023 at 4:07 AM, georgehifi said: Not very confidently if they looked like this that was posted up by a member. Cheers George Well, that is where experience comes in. There is a sort of a finite way of building tube amps and if you are able to follow the wiring you quickly figure out what is what and have an idea of what is going on. 2
Addicted to music Posted January 1, 2024 Posted January 1, 2024 12 minutes ago, Ihearmusic said: Well, that is where experience comes in. There is a sort of a finite way of building tube amps and if you are able to follow the wiring you quickly figure out what is what and have an idea of what is going on. On 30/12/2023 at 6:19 PM, Ihearmusic said: I have repaired Supratek amps and I am not the designer. If one knows tube amplifiers, one can repair them. Solid State repair folks would probably struggle an bit. And yes, they are a great amplifier regardless of model. Any experience tech will able to follow the wiring on any live circuit, but to say that a SS orientation tech would have difficult fault finding tubes is just your inexperience and limited to your own observation. Valves are the most easiest amplifiers to repair, one of the reason for this is that you discounted that tube rolling gives you the basics to fault find, anyone can do this and its not limited to specific techs. 1
Addicted to music Posted January 1, 2024 Posted January 1, 2024 On 31/12/2023 at 9:04 AM, Gremrock said: rather than attacking a product perhaps offering any kind of alternative option would be beneficial? Lots of alternatives around. We even have a of couple builder here in Victoria , one who builds valve amps with precision to military standards who doesnt even get a mentioned, but this is the wrong thread. most if not all will build it to accredited stantards that the above pics of a product lacks, and you people wonder why the criticism. but then again your all dont care because you all think its a great SQ product.
muon* Posted January 1, 2024 Posted January 1, 2024 1 hour ago, Ihearmusic said: Well, that is where experience comes in. There is a sort of a finite way of building tube amps and if you are able to follow the wiring you quickly figure out what is what and have an idea of what is going on. Totally agree, I said in a thread here years ago when some bashing was going on, that a competent tube amp repairer would not have a problem with the Supratek's. Nice to see someone competent with tubes 3 1
Mendes Posted January 1, 2024 Posted January 1, 2024 29 minutes ago, muon* said: Totally agree, I said in a thread here years ago when some bashing was going on, that a competent tube amp repairer would not have a problem with the Supratek's. Nice to see someone competent with tubes Yes Ian. From personal experience I can confirm that @Ihearmusic is extremely competent working on tube gear, even without schematics, something a lot of other techs balk at. @La scala nice set up you have sir!!! Bicep's and JS Bach...... I like it 3 1
Ihearmusic Posted January 1, 2024 Posted January 1, 2024 1 hour ago, Addicted to music said: Lots of alternatives around. We even have a of couple builder here in Victoria , one who builds valve amps with precision to military standards who doesnt even get a mentioned, but this is the wrong thread. most if not all will build it to accredited stantards that the above pics of a product lacks, and you people wonder why the criticism. but then again your all dont care because you all think its a great SQ product. Well,.........SQ is what matters most I would say. And since SQ is of a very personal nature, you are right, not all care about "Accredited Standards". 2
georgehifi Posted January 1, 2024 Posted January 1, 2024 (edited) 8 hours ago, Ihearmusic said: Well, that is where experience comes in. I didn't say I couldn't do it! I would if I owned it, but wouldn't if it were a customers, as the labor time cost would skyrocket, experienced or not. And with that sort of wiring layout, no two units would sound the same. Where this would. Cheers George Edited January 1, 2024 by georgehifi 1
georgehifi Posted January 1, 2024 Posted January 1, 2024 8 hours ago, Addicted to music said: Any experience tech will able to follow the wiring on any live circuit, but to say that a SS orientation tech would have difficult fault finding tubes is just your inexperience and limited to your own observation. So true. Many tube techs are the ones that have difficulty with solid state fault finding, especially without a circuit. Cheers George 1
Addicted to music Posted January 1, 2024 Posted January 1, 2024 6 hours ago, Ihearmusic said: Well,.........SQ is what matters most I would say. And since SQ is of a very personal nature, you are right, not all care about "Accredited Standards". SQ is personal, what people demand and think sounds good sometime are so skewed that they don’t know what is supposed to be real and accurate. This is why I never judge a book by its cover! Lots of BS even on this thread and in many other sites. Wiring is so important that if you don’t do things to “Accredited Standards” not only your safety compliance isn’t passed performance will vary and not all units you produce will performed the same therefore will sound different…..not something you want as a manufacturer.
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