2. amps-preamps
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Another quick Cary V12 thread

 

@decooney , for some reason I am unable to send messages anymore.  

 

Hey @immatthewj wait a second. I just kinda realized something looking back at other threads. So you have the standard Cary V12 or V12I amp then now?

Before you try and test any more speakers, there could be a whole separate thread on what caps and tubes you have in your preamp and your amp now. Gotta tell ya, I drove myself crazy with my former V12R until I made upgrades, and this changed everything downstream for the speakers. Speakers reacted differently. Like, I’m saying, maybe a whole separate thread and i’ll pose two questions. Maybe take it over to a V12 thread or something as I can’t reply to msgs due to Agon fees, CC.

You can send me a msg, with these answers, and I’ll have to send a separate message later to reply back - separately.

 

Amp: Is the V12 all stock, and does it have the old original gray looking AudioOne coupling caps in it now? [if so, its time for a change, no doubt]. What front end EL84s do you have it it now, what brand/model/era. Same goes for 6922s etc.

Preamp: Do you run the SLP-05 preamplifier now [or am I confused]. Exactly what tubes/model/era are you running in the preamp now? [if running the new Tung Sol tubes, they are smoothed over, kinda veiled over, not good in my Cary SLP98]. I run other TJ Full Music there and just received new PSVane Art Series II 6SN7s direct from the factory and testing those soon. Opening box in just a bit, fyi.

If I’m remotely close to these other assumptions, its definitely worth a serious look here first before more speaker buys imo, and fwiw. Before I upgraded my V12R, it was a bit more flat and dull sounding. After the upgrades, it was truly amazing. The new owner was astonished at the sound, he also compared it at his friends house against a very high $ Aesthetix amplifier and both said my upgraded Cary V12r surpassed the sound of the Aesthetix. They drove it hard I guess, even with massive electrostats until it ran hot for weeks I guess, and had a transformer meltdown or something  The only thing upgraded in that V12R was the coupling caps and the smaller input/driver tubes up front to very nice matched vintage tubes. If you want more open and large sound with a V12, this will do it. Send me a msg with the answers fwiw.  

 

1) standard V12

2) it did have Jensen coupling caps, but one went bad a few years ago so I replaced with "Mundorf Supreme Silver Gold Oil""

3) presently I am running EL84s I bought from Uncle Kevin;  From memory I think that they are Tungstrams..  I have several 6922s and 6DJ8s at my disposal, but I am using a pair of Gold Lion 6922s right now.

4) yes, the preamp is the SLP 05 and I am using the balanced inputs.  I am running JJ 6sn7s in the phase splitter sockets, and I have numerous pairs of  used vintage 6sn7s and 6F8Gs (with adapters) that I have been rolling in the balanced input sockets.  Right now I am using  a pair of National Union 6F8Gs that I really like the sound of.

 

 
immatthewj
decooney
2,124 posts
 

okay relating this back to the other thread today, and topics about pairing specific speakers with the V12/R amps in case we send other V12 and V12R owners loopy.

1. The question had to do with pairing up different speakers with the V12, Totem and Revel speakers too, correct? https://forum.audiogon.com/posts/2763540

2. And reference back to the former 2020 year CAD-SA280 V12R thread mentioned in case someone looking at V12, V12i, V12R amps needs to jump back there. It’s such a small niche group of us who owned these starting back in 2004 through 2020 era, members  can look here too. Lots of chatter back and forth there too about amps, mods and more https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/cary-audio-cad-280sa-v12r

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For this thread, I’d say @immatthewj you have all the regular bases covered an more than most with the SA-280 V12+ amps, and fiddling with everything.

Check that box. Are you keeping your V12 and still looking for better matching speaker then - at this juncture? (Ken, Totem, Revel) and others, maybe, or ?

 

 

decooney
2,124 posts
 

@immatthewj Some other ideas perhaps - I just read back over one of the threads where you ran your V12 in Triode and were still breaking in the Revel speakers. I can now see why you later came back in one thread indicating Ultralinear mode with your V12 amp was working better for you and these speakers.

Also noting your current vs watts thread on Agon, and see the discovey path you are researching now. Also former comments about some of the bass or lack thereof. Even though your Revels are rated a nominal 8ohms, I wonder if there are other options to narrow it down easier

;

On the flip side:

  • A) Amps: IF you decide to keep testing your recently new Revel speakers, have you tried a higher power / higher current solid state amp paired up with your Cary SLP-05 tube preamp? [borrow one?]
  • B) Speakers: if you keep your V12 amp, are you planning to test out other 8-ohm speakers at least 90-93db sensitivity by chance?
  • C) Locals: any local dealers or audio clubs in your state/city to work with trying your preamp/amp on their speakers or obtain a demo-loaner SS amp to bring home and try on your speakers [as a test?]

Inquiring more about functional testing to help prove some things out a little more. 

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