Cayin A88T - My Favorite Amp Out of Numerous - FYI

I bought and sold over a dozen solid state and tube amps before settling on the Cayin A88T. I choose tubes over solid state for the life like quality they imbue in the music. I found the sound of the Cayin A88T very engaging and my pick out of all the amps I tried. It has a vibrant 'front row center live' appeal to it.

In comparison, my CJ CAV50 integrated sounded dull in the upper mid/treble area (although quit warm in the midrange). My Cary SLI-80 Signature F1 sounded very detailed, yet overly clinical, close to solid state to me.

The sound you get out of the Cayin can vary dramatically by how you tube it, and even by how you bias it, though less dramatic.

After much experimentation, my recommended tubes are: SED KT88 power tubes, for the 6SL7s - I recommend Mullard CV-569 or ECC35 (expensive but worth every penny, a dramatic improvement in the sound), and for the 6SN7s, I recommend RCA V-231s (military 6SN7s).

Bias: with the above tubes (which complemented the amp the best over numerous trials), for my tastes, the music seemed ever so sligthly too open in the upper mids, which I adjusted nicely by setting the bias to 336 instead of the 400 recommended. By the way, I had tried the 6550 power tubes, but they sounded too soft and closed in to me.

So, if you are looking to make a change in amps or looking to pick a first tube amp, I think you couldn't loose with the Cayin A88T. At present, I like it so much that it may be my last amp also.