New CAT owner with a few questions????


I recently purchased a CAT Ultimate(here at Audiogon). Being a relative newcomer to high-end audio, I would appreciate a little help. I'm really enjoying this Preamp and I just want to make sure I'm doing everthing possible to maximze the preamp and my enjoyment.

1. I don't understand the use of the phono plugs provided and the loading issues. My system includes a Well-Tempered Reference and a Transfigration Spirit cartridge.
2. The CAT manual mentions the use of tube dampers on certain tubes, thoughts on this.
3. Power cords and phono interconnect for the CAT?
4. NOS for the CAT.
5. The manual mentions grounding issues and floating the system? How important is this?
5. Did I miss anything?

Thanks for any of your thoughts on the above items.
grandpoobah

Showing 1 response by rayhall

I am a current CAT owner. I have tried a fair number of NOS tubes and decided to use Telefunken 12AX7's in V8 and V9 and Telefunken 6922's in V6 and V7. In V10, I use a less expensive Telefunken 6DJ8. I have tried a Telefunken CCa in V6 and V7, which I liked even better, but I am not sure that it is "allowed". I have asked CAT to research whether this tube is acceptable in those positions. Meanwhile, I am not using the CCa. Other brands I have tried are Mullard, Amperex, Siemens, Tungsram and of course the stock Sovtek 6922's and EI 12AX7's. I think the EI's are excellent for new tubes, but the Sovtek doesn't measure up. With Telefunken, you will get a warmer sound, better bass extension and the preamp sounds more dynamic. The Telefunken CCa adds a little more highs than the Tele 6922. I would say the CAT is quite sensitive to which tubes that you use and you can tailor the sound to your tastes by selecting tubes carefully. As far as power cords, I have tried the ESP Essence, which is in fact, the one recommended by Ken Stevens, the designer of the CAT. I found little to no difference using this cord. I have tried several others and found either little difference or a degradation. But then again, I have no complaints about the sound with my NOS tubes and the stock power cord, except I would like to hear a little more in the upper mids and highs. I know the Tele CCa's will give this to me. Just awaiting CAT's go ahead to use them. CAT is the smoothest, quietest, most distortion free and most musical preamp I have ever heard.