Cary SLI-80 tweaks and improvements?

Some of this can depend how old and what generation/model your SLI-80 is. If you don’t know, check the serial and call Cary and ask. There were a few nice changes/upgrades over the years and outside vendors who created their own series with upgrades, i.e. F1, and even those can be upgraded again. For example, is it a Base model or Signature model, are any of the factory upgrades applied over the years, i.e volume control installed, signature wiring yes/no, how old are those Ruby 6550s, etc. This depends on how you want to attack it, piecemeal -or- possibly go for the whole batch of common upgrades all at once (I recommend this approach, so worth it).

Many of us here could likely go on for pages here about all of the things to look for and try, dare I say send it to Cary to test and apply upgrades, or better yet find a really good local tech to test it. For example,, look over at the caps/age installed, test the tubes/transformers, and more - inside. A really good tech can quickly assess it and speed you forward fwiw. Good techs do this quite regularly. 

I owned a fully factor upgraded Signature, then had a local tech buddy help me discover more upgrades replacing caps again, a few diodes, better Silver wiring inside, then tried a few different quads of KT88s, various vintage input/driver tubes, and 6SN7s. I think upgrading to the really good coupling capacitors and [new] main output tube changes made the most notable differences to me in one shot. Get this - Cary actually bought my SLI-80 back from me for more than retail price to study the upgrades we did. The new owner was absolutely thrilled with it. Ended up going with a SLP-98 preamp istead and separate amps. That souped up SLI-80 was sweet, should have hung on to it actually. Again, mine was already a Signature model to begin with. Seriously, I’d just seek a great tech if you want to cut to the chase and start enjoying it more, sooner. It’s worth testing/upgrading if you can. Best of luck.

Thanks for the detailed reply.  Mine is not a Signature model.  By looking at the font on the top of the unit, it's probably more of a "first-generation' type.  What KT88's did you eventually land on?

I'm searching for a good local technician so hopefully I can fine someone that's not only competent, but not backed up 6 months!

I emailed Cary this morning to see the costs and turn-around time for the F1 upgrade.  We'll see what they have to say.

I emailed Cary this morning to see the costs and turn-around time for the F1 upgrade

I wish you good luck with that.

Your comparison achieved the results I would have predicted.  Cary is a swiss army knife with high power.  Decware keeps it very simple, touches the signal as little as possible, and stays lower power.  

I suggest instead of working on the Cary, you shop for more sensitive speakers and maybe even go SET.  I don't even do push pull any more.  I had a ZMA, it was excellent, but couldn't match an SET.  push pull is a compromise but many make it because it is better than SS and their speakers don't support SET.

Jerry

I looked at changing speakers for a while, but I really like my present speakers, which are Vienna Acoustics.  I have looked at a pair of Omega bookshelves since they are more sensitive and almost bought a pair.  There isn't much else that I have seen that interests me and fits into my budget.  I also thought about picking up a set of those Klipsch RP-600 MII's since they're relatively cheap just to see if I like them.  I still might do that.

I almost think that I'll eventually land on a Decware Torii which should do enough of everything I want.  The just don't come up very often, though.  :\