Cary SLI-80 vs Cary 300SEI

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

Your system is just like mine, 3 years ago I started with Sonatina II and SLI 80 then a year later I added 1 Rel sub (I believed it is series 1) then last year I switched from SLI 80 to 300 SEI LX20, using KR 300 bxls tube, 20 watt/channel, it sounded really great, quiet, powerful and has many details of sound coming out from the speakers, I strongly recommend this changes. Now, I am in the process of adding a tube pre-amp and use my integ. amp as an amplifier and hopefully later on moving to monoblocks and also I've heard adding a s.s. amp to drive the lower freq. will be a big plus, what do you think?
Ron.

Yes, I recently added the REL sub, and it's a jaw dropping combination : - ) I thought the 300 SEI LX20 was an amp, not an integrated, no? Anyway, great to hear that this change was worthwhile.

As to maximizing sound of SLI-80, I have been playing around with SED KT-88's vs Svetlana EL-34s (love both, actually). I experimented quite a bit with triode vs ultralinear - now I use exclusively triode - and also tried both Ohm setting on the back. I also experimented with various settings on the bias. I now keep it between 75 and 79 ususually. It's amazing how even a small bias drift can affect the sound. I thought sounded soft last week, turned out the bias had drifted to 71. Fixing it tightened up everything. Then there are cables.... I ended up with a mix of Quattrofil and Audience AU24. My old Cardas Golden Ref, which were fantastic with everything I threw at it, seemed a bit too laid back for this already laid back gear.

Art

The "I" at the end of model numbers means "integrated" in Cary products.

Artmaltman,

I also had the same set up as you a couple of years ago, less the sub. I also had the same questions as you. I just got a Almarro SET today to try vs my sli-80 with Eh-Kt88. I also have 7308 and POPE 6ns7 tubes in the front end of the sli-80 and they make a huge difference. I will be curious to see what you think, I have very little expererience with SET, but 300b amps have never been my fair. I let you know how I get along.
Thanks
Mike