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Cary Audio SLP-05 First Impression

Hi,  I just received my Cary Audio SLP-5 tube preamp this weekend.  It’s only been less than 48 hours and I can’t wait to share my experience with my fellow A’goners. If I have to summarize my initial impression of this unit in one word, it would be:  WOW!!!

I don’t consider myself a true audiophile, so I don’t really have a strong audiophile vocabulary to describe the sound quality, but a few clichés come to mind:

  • sounds like the musicians are right there in my room
  • holographic 3D sound
  • dead quiet
  • sweet & non-fatiguing top end
  • deep bass

Couple of things I hope will continue to improve is a tiny bit more punchiness in the mid bass, and smoothing out some occasional graininess at the top end.

My strongest impression so far is the overall imaging of the sound, and the sense that I’m listening to live music.  Last night I had my system casually playing in the background when I was doing stuff around my apartment, and Eva Cassidy’s Live at Blues Alley album came on.   I was suddenly drawn to the music, and for the first time ever, I finally understand what the description ’sounds like the musicians are right there in my room’ means.   It was surreal.   It brought a big smile to my face.  It was simply beautiful.   Need I say more?

This is the first line level tube preamp I’ve ever owned.  I do own the Herron VTPH-2A tube phono preamp.   Now I know what all that fuss and craze of tube pre/power amps are about.   I guess you simply have to experience it to appreciate it.   I still feel my Parasound JC2 and JC5 combo sounds great, and I am not planning to get rid of them anytime soon.   It’s just that the Cary SLP-05 completely opens up a new music dimension that I’ve never experienced before, and so far it’s been very pleasant.

I will consider doing the ‘Ultimate Upgrade’ offered by Cary at $1600 at some point.   Please feel free to share your experience If you are a SLP-05 owner and have done this upgrade.

I have purchased so many components in the last couple of years based on suggestions and comments that I received, and stuff I read in this forum.  So thanks to those who continue to contribute and share their experiences to fellow members. 

Finally, a big shout-out to @ghdprentice for your suggestion of tube preamps and brought up the Cary brand name in one of my other discussions.  This preamp is certainly a keeper.

PS:  there are a couple of changes Cary had made to the latest production of SLP-05.  It now comes with a universal remote control.  The same one that they sell for $190 on their website, instead of a basic 3 buttons remote that I read from some older reviews.   Also they no longer recommend stacking the control unit on top of the power unit, and therefore those indentations on the top of the power unit are gone.  It is simply a flat surface now.   Actually to my surprise, the power unit runs much hotter than the control unit.  I always thought the control unit would run hotter because that is where the vacuum tubes sit.

PPS: My unit was shipped with the blue power LED missing.  After contacting Cary Audio support, they told me it was most likely dislodged due to rough handling by Fedex.  So the unit is now going back and i would have to wait for a replacement.   That sucks, but kudos to the customer support folks at both Cary Audio and Music Direct for their great service!

Thanks for reading.

128x128xcool
xcool's avatar
xcool OP
273 posts
 

Hey @blkwrxwgn, yes I did some tubes rolling on my SLP-05.

I’m like you, I also found the stock EH a bit too bright for me. So I contacted Brent Jessee. Great guy to deal with BTW. He recommended the RCA black plates. So I bought 3 pairs to change out the 2 pairs of gain stage tubes, and 1 pair for the balanced buffer.

The RCA’s are a lot warmer which I like. It took away the top end edge, but also with it some details. The bass are OK, but it lacks some slam. I then changed the balanced buffer tubes back to the EH, and the system sounded better. It had more details without the brightness. I’ve been quite happy with that combination.

And then after a couple of months, I decided to try some NOS Ken Rad to replace the RCA at the gain stage. Most comments I read about the Ken Rad are how good their bass sound. So I bought a couple of pairs from Brent Jessee. Unfortunately, they didn’t work out. There were so much microphonics literally 2 minutes into the music that it was completely unlistenable. So I returned them and just kept my RCA’s.

A few months ago, I decided to give the much raved about Linlai E-6SN7 tubes a try. So I bought a pair to replace the EH at the balanced buffer stage, and I like it quite a bit. Better sound stage and tighter and lower bass.

So this is where I am now with my tubes, and probably live with it for a while.

Good to know about your experience with NOS Mullard rectifier. Can you tell me exactly the model/year if you remember? I did change my rectifier tube to the Gold Lion Genelax as recommended by some member here, but did not hear much difference. Also, let us know how the Sylvania work out for you after you burn them in.

Hope this helps. Cheers!

immatthewj
2,133 posts
 

so I tried some JJ's I had and the whole unit changed!  And I HATE the JJ 6SN7 tubes usually!

@blkwrxwgn  , I recently had a bad experience (a way too early failure) with 4 RCA Glass VT231s that I paid way too much for in the phase gain buffer sockets (in my SLP 05), therefore I am back to the EHs in those four positions.  I intend to give Mr. Jessee a call one of these days, but for now, I kind of blew my tube allowance.  As I remember, JJs are quite affordable, so can you elaborate on the sonic changes they made in your SLP-05?

 

avanti1960
1,484 posts
 

The Sylvania 6SN7 GTAs from the early 50's are the best sounding tubes I have had to date including Ken Rad, RCA, Raytheon etc.  

The Sylvanias are reasonable and NOS units are readily available from reliable tube sellers on e-b.  

 

immatthewj
2,133 posts
 

Good to know about your experience with NOS Mullard rectifier. Can you tell me exactly the model/year if you remember? I did change my rectifier tube to the Gold Lion Genelax as recommended by some member here, but did not hear much difference

@xcool  , a while ago I had some questions related to the rectifier tube for the SLP-05; I don't know if you caught any of it when it was running, but if not, you may find some of the replies helpful.  Or you may not--but either way, here is the thread:

 

xcool's avatar
xcool OP
273 posts
 

@immatthewj,  great.  thanks for sending this.  I’ll check it out.  

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