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Any problem with Cary SLI-80 INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER

I read somewhere here but can not find it anymore.  Someone stated that he had problem with the tube with his SLI-80.  Anyone having same problem.  I was thinking if I am going to buy one, should I buy brand new or used.  If I buy new one and time to resale it then I will lose maybe half of the money but if I buy used then I not going lose much money.  If this one would last for long time with out any problem then maybe worth it to buy used.  Comment please.  
eddy1
brf
1,715 posts
 
The SLI-80 has been produced since 1989 and has stood the test of time.  If the amp is ever need of repair, the point to point wiring makes it easy to work on by most qualified techs.  The only achilles heal that I know of is that over time a coupling cap may fail and take out a tube.  If you buy an older SLI-80 a recap upgrade would be a good idea. 
eddy1 OP
135 posts
 
Thank you everyone for the info.  The problem or issue that the guy wrote I think it was life of the tube is very shot and one other issue but I couldn't remember.  Regarding recap, if the used one is too old then I might do a new one.  But if one come up with 2 yrs old, do I need to recap?  

One other question is that would this SLI-80 would works okay with Sonus Faber Venere 2.5, this speaker is 6 ohms?
brf
1,715 posts
 
No worries with a SLI-80 five years or less.  The Cary has both 4 and 8 ohm impedance switch on the back of the amp. 
eddy1 OP
135 posts
 
Thank you very much.

sfar's avatar
sfar
1,758 posts
 
brf is right, you might eventually have a coupling cap failure, but that's true of any tube amp and the design of the SLI-80 makes replacing the caps relatively simple and inexpensive.

I disagree with the idea that the life of tubes in an SLI-80 is short. I ran mine for many hours every day for about three years and never had a tube failure or any degradation I could hear or that showed up in testing.

At the same time I owned the SLI-80 I also had a Rogue Cronus integrated. That's a fine sounding amp from a great company but, without any actual evidence to back up the impression, it seemed as if the Cronus was harder on signal tubes than the Cary. Tubes that worked beautifully in the Cary were sometimes microphonic in the Cronus. Again, this is just an impression, no real data to back it up and my experience with service from Rogue was excellent.

I agree with truemaineiac, tubes are just very expensive light bulbs and if you're not willing to deal with fiddling with them occasionally then tube amps aren't for you.

I'm rambling on here but the SLI-80 is one of the nicest pieces of gear I've owned and I don't think you'd regret buying one.
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