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Cary Audio SLP-05 First Impression

Hi,  I just received my Cary Audio SLP-5 tube preamp this weekend.  It’s only been less than 48 hours and I can’t wait to share my experience with my fellow A’goners. If I have to summarize my initial impression of this unit in one word, it would be:  WOW!!!

I don’t consider myself a true audiophile, so I don’t really have a strong audiophile vocabulary to describe the sound quality, but a few clichés come to mind:

  • sounds like the musicians are right there in my room
  • holographic 3D sound
  • dead quiet
  • sweet & non-fatiguing top end
  • deep bass

Couple of things I hope will continue to improve is a tiny bit more punchiness in the mid bass, and smoothing out some occasional graininess at the top end.

My strongest impression so far is the overall imaging of the sound, and the sense that I’m listening to live music.  Last night I had my system casually playing in the background when I was doing stuff around my apartment, and Eva Cassidy’s Live at Blues Alley album came on.   I was suddenly drawn to the music, and for the first time ever, I finally understand what the description ’sounds like the musicians are right there in my room’ means.   It was surreal.   It brought a big smile to my face.  It was simply beautiful.   Need I say more?

This is the first line level tube preamp I’ve ever owned.  I do own the Herron VTPH-2A tube phono preamp.   Now I know what all that fuss and craze of tube pre/power amps are about.   I guess you simply have to experience it to appreciate it.   I still feel my Parasound JC2 and JC5 combo sounds great, and I am not planning to get rid of them anytime soon.   It’s just that the Cary SLP-05 completely opens up a new music dimension that I’ve never experienced before, and so far it’s been very pleasant.

I will consider doing the ‘Ultimate Upgrade’ offered by Cary at $1600 at some point.   Please feel free to share your experience If you are a SLP-05 owner and have done this upgrade.

I have purchased so many components in the last couple of years based on suggestions and comments that I received, and stuff I read in this forum.  So thanks to those who continue to contribute and share their experiences to fellow members. 

Finally, a big shout-out to @ghdprentice for your suggestion of tube preamps and brought up the Cary brand name in one of my other discussions.  This preamp is certainly a keeper.

PS:  there are a couple of changes Cary had made to the latest production of SLP-05.  It now comes with a universal remote control.  The same one that they sell for $190 on their website, instead of a basic 3 buttons remote that I read from some older reviews.   Also they no longer recommend stacking the control unit on top of the power unit, and therefore those indentations on the top of the power unit are gone.  It is simply a flat surface now.   Actually to my surprise, the power unit runs much hotter than the control unit.  I always thought the control unit would run hotter because that is where the vacuum tubes sit.

PPS: My unit was shipped with the blue power LED missing.  After contacting Cary Audio support, they told me it was most likely dislodged due to rough handling by Fedex.  So the unit is now going back and i would have to wait for a replacement.   That sucks, but kudos to the customer support folks at both Cary Audio and Music Direct for their great service!

Thanks for reading.

128x128xcool

Showing 9 responses by avanti1960

avanti1960
1,411 posts
 

xcool,

definitely get the power supply chassis out from under that shelf, it has a tube rectifier and gets fairly warm.  mine got very warm so i pulled it out and just put it on the top shelf under the preamp chassis in stacked arrangement.  much much cooler now.  

sorry for your units trouble, bummer.  

i had an issue under warranty where it would not power up the tubes.  the easily found and replaced the bad component.  

when mine was in for the repair i replaced it with a basic solid state preamp.  when my cary came back i could not believe how amazing it sounded in comparison to the solid state preamp.  it has been working perfectly for over a year now and i love the sound so much i will just get it fixed if it ever has another problem but i do believe strongly the power supply chassis needs good ventilation.  

 

avanti1960
1,411 posts
 

Sounds exactly like what happened to my SLP-05- none of the left 6 tubes would fire and the meter readings were way off.  I had to send it in and it was fixed perfectly.  

As a last ditch effort before you send it in you can try a new rectifier- it is good to have one on hand as a spare regardless and they are not expensive.

I had a rectifier blow (the cheap Sovtek) and it took 2 fuses.  Replaced it with a NOS mullard off label and sound and reliability improved.  

 

avanti1960
1,411 posts
 

@xcool 

do hang in there, lots of burn in required!

the ultimate upgrades do seem to be subtle but some tube and rectifier changes can be dramatic upgades.  

for tube rolling tubes 1,2,4 and 5 affect non balanced inputs, just get two matched pairs of the same tube with the pairs plugging into 1,4 and 2, 5.  

if you use balanced inputs ( highly recommended) then you need another matched pair for slots 3, 6.  

tubes 7 and 8 are for the headphone amp. 

i use 3 matched pairs of sylvania 6SN7 GTA from the 50s and the sound blows away the EH stock tubes.  you can barely listen to them after experiencing the sylvanias.  

also do upgrade the 5ar4 / gz34 rectifier to a nos mullard f32.  you can find brands made by mullard for reasonable cost. 

again, another dramatic upgrade, especially in transparency and dynamics.  

avanti1960
1,411 posts
 

congrats xcool!  love my slp05, turned a year old this january. 

holographic is the word for sure.  

do try tube rectifier and 6sn7 tube rolling down the road.

mine blew 2 meter led bulbs in 6 months, took a pic of the issue and cary sent me the replacements, not to difficult to diy if you can use a soldering iron. 

avanti1960
1,411 posts
 

these will get you started... good price. good seller.

 

 

avanti1960
1,411 posts
 

xcool,

it was a single component in the power supply box, a power supply regulator or something like that.  

yes i saw the video, mine did not have the source issue.

they will fix it.  

avanti1960
1,411 posts
 

The Sylvania 6SN7 GTAs from the early 50's are the best sounding tubes I have had to date including Ken Rad, RCA, Raytheon etc.  

The Sylvanias are reasonable and NOS units are readily available from reliable tube sellers on e-b.  

 

avanti1960
1,411 posts
 

@dger1979 

Just checked mine and it reads 250 / 69.  I am not concerned about it, been playing solid for almost 3 years.  

E-mail Steve at Cary, they he'll get back to you right away.  I wonder if it has to do with the tube rectifier installed.  FYI not a fan of the original Sovtek rectifier, it failed after 3 months and took out the fuses.  Look on e-bay for a NOS made by Mullard GZ34.  

 

avanti1960
1,411 posts
 

@dger1979 

definitely a noticeable sonic difference with different rectifiers. 

Stock Sovtek- kind of bland overall, nothing offensive but nothing great

New production Gold Lion- improved dynamics but thick and veiled sound.  

NOS Amperex- Punchy bass and very good dynamics but a bit noisy on the top end.

NOS Mullard GZ34 F32- Clear, refined, smooth and excellent dynamics and improved sound stage.  

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