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Cary SLI-80 tweaks and improvements?

Hello all,

I have an older Cary SLI-80 that I'm trying to find a path forward to a wider sound stage and improved dynamics.  In comparing it to my Decware Taboo, yes, it has a boat-load more power available, however, the Decware has a much wider sound stage, better channel separation and decay from instruments like cymbals, compared to the Cary.  The channel separation is much better on the Decware and this is especially apparent with songs that feature heavy panning from left to right and back again.

The Cary is running vintage Bugle Boy 6922's, vintage Sylvania 6S7N's, and Ruby 6550's.  

I have been looking at a couple of different paths forward:

Moving to EL34's or another power tube?

Upgrading the internal capacitors such as upgrading to the F1 mod?

A combination of both?

Any other ideas to try to capture the performance of the Decware are welcomed.

Thank You!

paradisecom
paradisecom OP
279 posts
 

Cary informed me that the hexfreds just replace the existing diodes and the tube rectifiers stay.

 

Also, does anybody know the plate voltage in these?  I can't find a stated value any where.  It would be helpful for trying different tubes.

paradisecom OP
279 posts
 

I found the plate voltage for mine.  Measured it at 588v.  So for future reference, there it is.

immatthewj
1,285 posts
 

Coincidentally I just got an email from Cary Direct about the SLI80, and in a review a customer is raving about the soundstage and the Hexfreds:

"I am currently a couple of weeks in with this great amplifier in my system. I am using it in mainly ultra-linear mode (but also like the triode option), driving Audiovector QR7se's. I have a Bluesound node acting as a streamer with a Chord Qutest DAC in the mix. Wow. This amp sings. I went with the Hexfred upgrade, but all else is based. The soundstage is incredible. The Cary team was also great with the purchase process, and the amplifier arrived less than a week after ordering. Very happy with this product."

 

paradisecom OP
279 posts
 

Just for future reference, Cary emailed back a list of bias settings for the various tubes that will work:

 

EL-34 50mA

KT-77 50 mA

KT-88  75mA

6550 75 mA

KT-120 75mA - 80mA

Do not use KT-66's.

patrickcarey
12 posts
 

Woah hold up.  For the op:  DAC , cables and interconnects can make a large difference.

I have an older Cary dac for the exciter head phone amp.  It’s decent, but I’m not claiming It’s great. My point is that it sounds warm and smooth, but it in no way compares to the better DACs of today which gives huge stage..

and yes, certainly tubes can change the sound stage, but so do DACs and cables.

 

 

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