2. amps-preamps
  3. 191843-139027

Cary SLP98L upgrades--yea or nay?

I like this venerable (and recently discontinued?) pre-amp and don't have any plans to swap it out any time soon. As I plan to keep it, I'm curious whether folks think that the Cary upgrade is worth it, and I'd appreciate any advice from those who have done it. (I know the F1 mods were popular.) Specifically:

-- They offer Mundorf MCap SUPREME EVO SilverGold Capacitors. Two versions, one with oil (+$20). I've read mostly good things about these. Do I want them--and do I want oil? 

--Hexfred rectifiers. I've read a couple mixed things about these. Are they an improvement?

--Kimber Kable ($150/input; I'd only do one input). Okay--I like Kimber Kable ... but will I hear any difference?

I'm sure there are other/better preamps out there, but I like this little guy and I'm not looking for recommendations or esoteric mods. If these upgrades are ... really upgrades, it's a modest investment and I'd be interested in hearing the difference. I'm also interested in trying out some different tubes, but I'll save that question for another day...

Thanks!

northman
dogearedaudio
113 posts
 

I own a Cary SLP-98p and I fully agree with the comments from larry, russ and harpo.  Sweet, musical, but a bit "sluggish" and thick-sounding.  Nonetheless, you're wise to keep it unless you can afford something a lot better.  (I myself moved to a Don Sachs-style 6SN7 Aikido preamp of my own construction, which retains the wonderful linearity of the 6SN7 but is much faster and more transparent).  I think the upgrade would be worth it, since anything better would cost at least $3000.  I would go with the oil caps.  I don't think you'll find them dry or bright.  I use Audyn Coppers in my preamp, but unless you find someone willing to offer you a choice of output caps, you're kind of stuck with Cary's recommendation. ;-)

nlitworld
66 posts
 

@dogearedaudio Which Audyn caps are you using? The Max or the regular True Copper? I used the Max caps on my Tubes4HiFi phono build and really like the sound, but the big stranded leads were a PITA to work with.

decooney
1,950 posts
 

@northman - decooney, thank you. I've read some of your posts on tube rolling with the SLP 98 and they're a great help!

FYI fwiw.  My SLI-80 integrated amplifier and SLP-98L line stage had similar internal upgrades.  I've found Tube Rolling after making these prerequisite hardware upgrades is faster and more beneficial to the discovery and listening process. Sure I tried tube rolling beforehand, yet realizing the differences between tubes were much greater after the internal hardware upgrades were made first.  

 

 

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