Is the Cary SLP-05 still relavant?

Yes.

just started running a new slp 05 taking advantage of a factory direct sale.
after adjusting and optimizing it sounds astonishing. my fourth and final preamp, a lesson learned that they are very important to the quality of the sound you hear. dynamics, tone, transparency, refinement, sound stage. the slp 05 does it all.  a good preamp can take control and transform the sound of your system. 
a few reference points for anyone stumbling on this thread:
1, the gain is extremely high, 24db with balanced outputs. the default gain level on the new controls is 100%. this was way too much for my system.
2, even with the gain levels at 50% it was still too much. i had to adjust the gain on my power amp, also to 50%. highly recommended to have a power amp with adjustable gain.
3, the stock sovtek rectifier and eh tubes sound very good out of the box. i have some nos 6sn7 and a rectifier ready to go but am in no hurry.
i suspect that people who are not completely happy with this preamp have a gain related issue and have not made proper adjustments. again, an amp with adjustable gain is highly recommended.
hope this helps.

Hi all,
i just got a new slp-05 for to audition. After a few hours of break in it sounds very pleasing so far. I am running balanced and the high gain does limit me to about 35% on the volume knob for reasonable listening levels. Does this result in any issues I am missing, In other words, why is high preamp gain an issue if you just have the pot set at 30% instead of say 60 % with an amp that has adjustable gain? I am driving a pass X250.8.

@jmbumgarner01, I run a slp 05 into a pair of xa60.8 and have the same issue.  A quick note to Pass Labs and they suggested a pair of Rothwell 10db balanced attenuators into the amp’s inputs.  Problem solved, plus it lowered the noise floor with no signal degradation whatsoever.  Reno HiFi also recommended the Rothwells.  

Excellent test pilot thanks. So is running the slp-05 volume pot between 20-35% not ideal and result in additional noise or degradation etc? 
The combo is sounding pretty great so far although from startupmy voltage meter has been showing 250 not 210 and current is 68 not 60, I emailed Cary today on that.