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Cary SLI-80 vs Cary 300SEI

I have Silverline Sonatina II's, with REL Strata III, and they seem like long term keepers. I'm also real happy with the Cary family sound, using Cary SLI-80 and Cary 303/100. No sonic need to upgrade, everything sounds great, but hey you know the itch. I did not reach this point by stopping every time things sounded ok, I was always shooting for better. My speakers are 8 ohm and 92 db or 93 db (I forget). How much of an upgrade is Cary 300SEI vs Cary SLI-80, run in triode with KT88's? IS it an upgrade, or just a different mix? My speakers are already warm sounding, would a 300B based integrated be too warm sounding? Please share your experience comparing these two great amps! Cables are a mix of Audience AU24 and Quattrofil.
Thanks!
Art
artmaltman
nickt
172 posts
 
Art,
I had owned your speakers and both Cary amps in the past. I still have a 300SEI amp in my bedroom system.
It will definitely be an upgrade path for you, since your speakers are very easy to drive.

The 300sei will be better in the following ways:

1. Pure Class A design.
2. 300B tubes.

And don't let the 15w fool you, it sounds more powerfull than my 200W HT amp!

Nick T.
artmaltman OP
769 posts
 
Thanks Nick. I understand that the 300SEI is pure class A and uses 300B tubes. I surmise that you found the 300SEI to sound substantially better than the SLI-80, although it seems that you liked both. If you would like to present more detail on the sound comparison that would be great. Of course now you have me curious to know what's in your regular, non-bedroom system!
Art
smileshopper2000
15 posts
 
Hi, Just intereted in how do you get the best out from SLI-80 by chossing the right tubes. I got mine today to drive ProAC2.5. (86db).(which is not so good with CAV50, although CAV50 is so good and I hesitated to replace it with SLI80.). so, if I am not deviated off the topic here. I would like to have your opnions on CAry SLI80 and CAV50 as well. (300B may be not enough for proAC)

Cheers
Derick
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