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Power Amp To Go With Cary SLP98P Preamp

I just got a Cary SLP98P Preamp and right now I am using a Primaluna Dialogue 5 Power Amp. Thinking about getting a Cary power amp to match the preamp. Right now I am looking at either the solid state 200.2 ES power amp at 200 watts per channel or the Cary CAD 120s mkII tube power amp at 110 watts or 60 watts in triode. Cary has a sale right now and wanted to take advantage. I have Ryan 630 floorstander speakers I am using right now. Also have a pair of Harbeth 3PSRs and Triangle ESW floorstanders I sometimes use. Small room(9 feet by 12 feet)  right now but will be moving to a bigger room later. I am partial to tubes but like the simplicity of the solid state option unless the sound isn't there. Any opinions? Thanks for any help.

128x128dylanfan
decooney
2,109 posts
 
@dylanfan 
12-08-2019 5:54pm
I like the Dialogue 5 fine. Have some Gold Lion KT77s I have not tried yet. I like the Primaluna KT88s pretty well actually. Just got an itch to get a matching power amp to my new Cary Preamp.

Ahhh, gotcha!  Know the itch feeling well...maybe that's why I shared I did this too - went and got the nice SA-200.2, almost bought a ".8" version PASS amp, and then missed my tube amps for their unparalleled three dimensional sound. Tried a few stereo tube amps in between. Then transformer drool kicked in.  

Had to buy tube mono block amps to finally be done.  While they are not same vendor matching amps to my keeper SLP-98 preamp, the preamp sure compliments them nicely with some good tube matching.  Enjoy the journey!  :)    
dylanfan's avatar
dylanfan OP
139 posts
 
The sa200.2 is appealing the me. Solid state high powered and cooler running. I am afraid I will miss my tube power amp even with the SLP98 preamp. You obviously missed the tube sound. Was there a big difference? The subtly and the air of tubes is hard for me to get rid of. Had a McIntosh 7900 Integrated and could not get rid of it quick enough. This stuff is confusing. I am happy with what I have just thought a Cary thrown into the mix would be great synergy.
decooney
2,109 posts
 
@dylanfan
...You obviously missed the tube sound. Was there a big difference? The subtly and the air of tubes is hard for me to get rid of...

Yes. I'd used solid state for 35 years.  Thought I could go back to it pairing up my SLP-98.  It was good but I never found myself engaged in the music in the same manner as any of my former upgraded tube amps. 

The only way to know is to try it with your system and speakers. 
decooney
2,109 posts
 
@dylanfan
12-08-2019 5:54pm
I like the Dialogue 5 fine. Have some Gold Lion KT77s I have not tried yet. I like the Primaluna KT88s pretty well actually. Just got an itch to get a matching power amp to my new Cary Preamp.

dylanfan,
  • How did the KT77s go for ya in your PrimaLuna tube amp?
  • Are you still on the hunt for a matching SS amp to your SLP-98?

Gotta say, I re-tubed with different 6SN7 tubes in my Cary SLP-98 preamp and went with 1960s Mullard 12AU7 input tubes in my Quicksilver Monoblock 120 tube amplifiers (with KT150 output tubes) and the result has been very rewarding. Manually turned bias down, amps run cooler, with nice smooth-musical-textural sound. Great match. Maybe you can try some sort of custom cage cover to protect your amps from the little ones.
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