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Cary SLI-80HS modifications

I’m strongly considering purchase of a new integrated amp. The Cary SLI-80HS is at the top of my list and I can’t find much information from people who opted for some of the available modifications — hexfeds, better caps, silver wiring, Greyhill volume control, improved binding posts.   I’m leaning toward getting all of them.  Opinions? 

Also, I’ve read that SS rectifiers can remove some of the tube “magic”.  What about in this specific model.  I’ve owned a 2009 era SLI-80 for almost 10 years so I am very familiar with the sound and improvements due to rolling tubes. I previously used a Plinius 9200 SS amp but got hooked on the sound of tubes.

BTW, I’m also considering a LTA ZOTL 40+ integrated but am a little concerned about its synergy with my beloved first-order crossover speakers, Meadowlark Osprey Gen 2.  

My most used equipment includes Aurender N150 streamer, Chord Qutest DAC with a Hugo M-Scaler, Cardas Golden Reference interconnects, Shunyata power cables and conditioner. Sadly, due to the living room location I must use a very long run of Nordost Super Flatline II cable (27 feet).

I’m looking for improved leading edge on plucked string instruments, especially basses, excellent timbre on everything.  90% of my listening is instrumental jazz, the rest is classic rock.  

txp1
txp1 OP
148 posts
 

I’m up to 56 listening hours on the new SLI-80HS so still in the burn-in window. It sounds quite nice with the stock tubes.  The power tubes are PSVane KT-88s.  The other tubes I’ll likely replace them first when I get to it.  They look like E-H 6922s and Chinese (JJ?) 6SN7s. Much of the printing is rubbed off.
As others said above, it has a tighter sound, less syrupy, less tube bloom but still definitely a tube amplifier.   I like it!


The only thing I didn’t like was the damn location placement stickers on the tubes.  They must have had some real newbies buying the amps. That’s great but I would have thought labeling just the boxes would have been sufficient. The stickers and stickem were a b***h to remove from the tubes.

Cary customer support was excellent as always in identifying screws I needed to fill the cage screw holes (I didn’t get a cage). 

pehare's avatar
pehare
835 posts
 

My unit decided to quit working after just a few hours:(  Sent it back to Cary and it turned out to be a connection came loose on a Solen cap lead.  Cary did a great job quickly on the short trip from FL to NC and I have the unit back in a sealed box.  It had been over 10 years since I had an amp this big and heavy and my senior bulged disc back unfortuately can't handle it so I've decided to sell it on the other site.  Great amp for someone looking.  

doyle3433's avatar
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doyle3433
318 posts
 

@txp1  Completely agree! That was my only annoyance, those darn stickers...

txp1 OP
148 posts
 

@pehare Bummer!    I recently moved both my new amp and my old SLI-80 and the new one seems quite a bit heavier but I haven’t weighed them (obviously!).

pehare's avatar
pehare
835 posts
 

@txp yeah, no doubt.  Curious what screws did Cary say work to fill in the cage hole screws and what did you use?  It'll be interesting to hear about the side panels as well, enjoy!

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