I have been using a Schitt Freya+ with my KT88 Firebottle amp ever since I got the amp. My DAC (a Topping D90) outputs 4.4v over its balanced connection and so the passive mode of the preamp works well. I noticed that the active section took away some detail and shrank the depth of the sound stage. Normally I would jump right into tube rolling but the Freya+ has the tubes recessed making it a pain to swap tubes and impossible to use my 7n7 tubes without resorting to using socket savers in addition to the adapters.
The obvious solution was to buy a new preamp! I had turned 50 this year and decided to treat myself to a pricy preamp. I decided on a Supratek Cabernet. It seemed to have what I was looking for in a design and is certainly well liked. I even had Mick customize it so I can use both 6sn7 and 12sn7 tubes. The best 6sn7 tubes have become incredibly expensive, the 12sn7 versions are still obtainable.
Long story short, I can't get the system sounding better with the preamp in the system than I can without it. No matter which tubes I use in the preamp or the amp I end up losing detail and often times have other sonic compromises.
The thing is that I have never needed more gain. So what was I hoping to accomplish with another gain stage? Some extra tube magic? That doesn't make any sense. None of this is a knock on the Supratek, it's just that I don't think I needed another piece in the system. I am very happy with the system with the passive preamp.
Dennis is now making a really sexy preamp that I totally would have bought if it had been available earlier in the year. I'm pretty sure I would have the same problem though. Those of you that have bought or are thinking about buying it, what is it that you're hoping it does in your system?
I'm keeping the Supratek because I'm an idiot audiophile lol. I will be trying some solid state amplifiers (shock, horror!) in the nearish future and I think it will be a great compliment to them. Gotta have some tubes in the system after all
