Cayin A88T - My Favorite Amp Out of Numerous - FYI


I bought and sold over a dozen solid state and tube amps before settling on the Cayin A88T. I choose tubes over solid state for the life like quality they imbue in the music. I found the sound of the Cayin A88T very engaging and my pick out of all the amps I tried. It has a vibrant 'front row center live' appeal to it.

In comparison, my CJ CAV50 integrated sounded dull in the upper mid/treble area (although quit warm in the midrange). My Cary SLI-80 Signature F1 sounded very detailed, yet overly clinical, close to solid state to me.

The sound you get out of the Cayin can vary dramatically by how you tube it, and even by how you bias it, though less dramatic.

After much experimentation, my recommended tubes are: SED KT88 power tubes, for the 6SL7s - I recommend Mullard CV-569 or ECC35 (expensive but worth every penny, a dramatic improvement in the sound), and for the 6SN7s, I recommend RCA V-231s (military 6SN7s).

Bias: with the above tubes (which complemented the amp the best over numerous trials), for my tastes, the music seemed ever so sligthly too open in the upper mids, which I adjusted nicely by setting the bias to 336 instead of the 400 recommended. By the way, I had tried the 6550 power tubes, but they sounded too soft and closed in to me.

So, if you are looking to make a change in amps or looking to pick a first tube amp, I think you couldn't loose with the Cayin A88T. At present, I like it so much that it may be my last amp also.
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A nice tube in the pre section which a nice alternative to the RCA 6SN7/VT231 is the Sylvania 6SN7GTA.

By the way, I reluctantly recently sold my Cayin A88T for an Almarro 318B. The Cayin is much more dynamic and powerful, however, I purchsed some Zu Druid speakers which mated nicely with an Almarro 318B, which has the trademark SET palpable mids, although as mentioned, it gives up something in bass control, dynamics, and soundstage.

I tried several SET amps, and the Almarro 318A or 318B to me is one of the best. It wasn't an easy decision because the Cayin A88T has something the Almarro doesn't and vice versa. With the Zu Druids, the Almarro roars and its 18 Watts per channel is plenty.

As a side note, I personally like the older Zu Druids better than the new Zu Omen speakers. They both sound similar, but to me, the Zu Druids are slightly warmer in the mids and still have very good bass down to the sub frequencies where it falls a little short (a good blending musical sub is the 100 watt MJ acoustics or an REL), and the newer Omen, although similar, is slightly clearer sounding overall and has more slam and a little more bass and a tad more treble it seems.
A very good pairing for your Joule would be the Music Reference RM9 MKI or II. I had the 150 Signature Edition with the RM9 Special Edition and that was about as good as it get at any price. Of course, I assume it would work great with the VZNs
Questions & curiosities:
You said: "reluctantly" sold the A-88T??? Why the regrets? Not asking for personal information rather - any thing amiss with the unit or something that did NOT strike your fancy?

A-88T versus A-100T: what are the pros & cons between these units (besides BIAS setting)?
Any comments these (two) tube units versus the transistor unit?
UMMMM - you can cook breakfast (eggs) on the shelf above???? Do they really get that HOT?

I have heard Chinese tubes are best for these units - what do you know about this? Think 'Classical' when responding.

Anyone have the S-100 or S-200? Comments about these please. If 'yes' did you consider the Marantz reference units?

Yes, I'm looking to add to my Audio room. Connecting to Definitive Technology 7004s with an SACD unit - primary music preferance: Classical and classic rock.

Appreciate comments from anyone, thank you.
I've owned the A70T and A50T. Both very impressive. I'm not impressed with the idea of turning over an amp just to bias it. Seems Cayin put more into the look of the A88T and skimped on the functionality of having easy bias access on top of the amp - Where it belongs if you ask me. Superb amps all around though...Cayin is the best bargain in tube integ's bar none. I've given up high end SS amps for tube integ's as a result of sampling several Cayin's, PL's, and several others. I'm now content with a 300B SET integrated. 9 watts Class A...pure tube...pure bliss...pretty glow too.