So many advises. I thank you all. Let me try to answer each one:
1- I did send the amp back to Cary a few days ago even tho I had no longer a warranty, because there was a clause that when I bot it about 1-1/2 years ago they were only giving me 1 yr warranty and not 3 years as the manual stated. The excuse? A special offering price on the SLI-80. I suspect they were ready to introduce the SLI-80HS and were getting rid of inventory, but I did not know that.... Well; that's neither here nor there.
I was raising the "flag" on this issue since way back within the warranty period but they always said "check bias" or "change the rectifier tubes".
2- After the techs received the amp, they claimed the bias was set at 130 mA and the KT-88's were burning up. But why didn't the tube fuses blow? Because they found that the fuses were 8A ..... Yes, you read it correctly: 8A instead of 0.5A and that I didn't know what I was doing and it was my fault.
3- Since I bought the amp in May 2018, I never once changed the tube fuses. I was changing the AC fuse 3A slo-blo constantly, and was reporting the "damage" to Cary to no avail.
4- According to the SLI-80 manual, the bias should be set at 100 mA. When I replaced the rectifier tubes 5U4 for 5AR4's by Cary recommendations, they recommended the bias around 75 mA. I reset the bias at 80 mA [with an analog VOM it can be difficult to differentiate between 75 and 80 mA], well within the acceptable "range". The 5AR4's were burning up and popping the AC fuse give or take every 2-3 months.
5- I now am getting the amp back from CARY in the next week or so having paid for the maintenance, setting up, and testing it, BUT ..... I did not want to have them provide tubes or fuses as I don't trust what they say. If it works after I install the tubes and fuses, so be it. Once it blows up again I will proceed to throw it out into the ocean..... good riddance! It's not worth the stress and headaches and being told I am an idiot! Did I mention that I am a retired electrical engineer with a minor in communications and an MBA in Finances. Oh well .... what more can I say.
Thanks for lending me your ear and advise. Have a nice weekend and stay well, wherever you are. Richard
1- I did send the amp back to Cary a few days ago even tho I had no longer a warranty, because there was a clause that when I bot it about 1-1/2 years ago they were only giving me 1 yr warranty and not 3 years as the manual stated. The excuse? A special offering price on the SLI-80. I suspect they were ready to introduce the SLI-80HS and were getting rid of inventory, but I did not know that.... Well; that's neither here nor there.
I was raising the "flag" on this issue since way back within the warranty period but they always said "check bias" or "change the rectifier tubes".
2- After the techs received the amp, they claimed the bias was set at 130 mA and the KT-88's were burning up. But why didn't the tube fuses blow? Because they found that the fuses were 8A ..... Yes, you read it correctly: 8A instead of 0.5A and that I didn't know what I was doing and it was my fault.
3- Since I bought the amp in May 2018, I never once changed the tube fuses. I was changing the AC fuse 3A slo-blo constantly, and was reporting the "damage" to Cary to no avail.
4- According to the SLI-80 manual, the bias should be set at 100 mA. When I replaced the rectifier tubes 5U4 for 5AR4's by Cary recommendations, they recommended the bias around 75 mA. I reset the bias at 80 mA [with an analog VOM it can be difficult to differentiate between 75 and 80 mA], well within the acceptable "range". The 5AR4's were burning up and popping the AC fuse give or take every 2-3 months.
5- I now am getting the amp back from CARY in the next week or so having paid for the maintenance, setting up, and testing it, BUT ..... I did not want to have them provide tubes or fuses as I don't trust what they say. If it works after I install the tubes and fuses, so be it. Once it blows up again I will proceed to throw it out into the ocean..... good riddance! It's not worth the stress and headaches and being told I am an idiot! Did I mention that I am a retired electrical engineer with a minor in communications and an MBA in Finances. Oh well .... what more can I say.
Thanks for lending me your ear and advise. Have a nice weekend and stay well, wherever you are. Richard