Too Much Gain the Issue ? (preamp and amp)

I use Rothwell 10db XLR attenuators and they work wonders between my tube pre and power amp..  I bought them new from Analogue Seduction on EBay and received them from the UK in less than a week.  

The Cary is already producing the gain; attenuators can help push noise floor hiss (NOT hissy treble) down and enable more volume control range but OP didn't complain about those issues, and they likely won't do anything to address the reported sibilance. Getting a super-low output MC to force a "need" for the high gain is also unlikely to resolve the issue here.

As OP reports clean smooth sound with XA25, he probably already has his answer - the Cary & X30.8 might just be a bad match. 

@stevehuff is running Cary SLP-05 with XA60.8 amps  

@avanti1960 may be worth reaching out to see if Steve observed something similar to what you’re running into. 

i am willing to try attenuators but are they any more effective than the front panel level controls?

Evidently, those level controls on the front your pre are not helping. You have nothing to loose by buying a pair of Rothwell Attenuators and putting them in the inputs to your amp. As far as the sibiliance is concerned, try swapping tubes.

Maybe, if you give Cary a call, they may give some advice on how to remedy the problem. This may be the best course of action.

+1@pmm.  When the (10dB) attenuator is used between the preamp and the power amp, quote (in Rothwell) "... not only is system gain reduced by 10dB but also the signal to noise ratio is improved by 10dB.  This pushes the noise floor down enough to create an inky black silent background from which the music can emerge with better resolved fine detail and transparency. This applies to even very high-end and very expensive pre/power amps." end quote.

Harrison Lab carries -12dB rca inline attenuator too and has good feedback but no xlr.  Also, I have used the variable attenuator a bit more expensive though.