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I've used the SPL-98 with a Levinson 336 and it was a great combination, assuming the 98 is the sound you're looking for. It leans more toward the tubey end of the spectrum which is not necessarily a bad thing. The extreme frequencies aren't the last word in resolution or impact, but the magic middle more than makes up for it if you're looking for that sort of sound.
You should also consider the SLP-05 if you can stretch the budget. It's an absolutely stunning preamp. I owned one and it was verrrrrry difficult to say goodbye to it.
Good luck with your decision, I can whole-heartedly recommend both of those Cary pre's. |
98 does not have the dimensionality of the 05 from my a/b and trials. 98 is the more tubey of the two however. |
Received my SLP-98 (tube) preamplifier and SA-200.2 (solid state) amplifier. Only have about 60 hours on both so far with stock tubes in the 98. A birdie told me don’t listen to either seriously until you have at least 80-100 hours on them and optimally 200 hours to be real listening. Wow, that’s some break-in time. It’s a bit of a roller coaster right now listening to the sound change as both units break in. Keeping my fingers crossed I can achieve another level of sound stage depth with some tube rolling this weekend. |
I've owned an SLP-98 for maybe 10 years now & have been very happy with it. Using it with a SS CJ MF2500A amp. Personally I wouldn't call the SLP-98 particularly "tubey" sounding. Depends on what other preamps you're comparing it to of course.
I'd be interested in how it works out for you, with tube rolling, etc.
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You need to do "serious listening" (furrowed brow, flop sweat from anxiety generated by the mystery of exactly when it will break in) anyway to really enjoy the exact point when the stuff finally breaks through to sounding settled, otherwise how will you know? |
UPDATE: WOOOOOOOOOOOOOAAAAAAHHHH !
At 80 hours of break-in, a good friend let me borrow a subset of his nice tube collection. Removed the stock harsh sounding stock EH 6SN7s tubes, started rolling. Settled on a quad set of NOS Sylvania 6SN7GTs.
In the same manner as occurred with my heavily upgraded SLI-80 integrated tube amp, all of the sudden the veil came off the new Cary SLP-98L tube preamp and SA-200.2 amplifier. Instantly more open, airy, more lunch, FULL and DEEP sound with an extra tall and wide sound stage presented itself. Okay, time to exhale, giving up my former tube amp was not a mistake but now my larger multi-driver electrostatic speaker truly sing again.
SHOCKED:
Now this is going beyond my expectations, exceeding ALL of my former solid state and modified tube amplifiers already. Everything I read prior to this point about this pre/amp combo is not only true, it’s incredible.
My buddy reminded me this new SA-200.2 amp runs full Class-A operation in the first 75 watts, and i can really tell. So under-rated.
Can’t wait to get my own permanent set of tubes and apparently it can take upwards of 200 hours to break in the amp, so there is more to come. I had the option of returning the amp in the first 30 days. No way, it’ not going anywhere but here. Definitely a long term keepers set, and the new SA-200.2 amp is probably one of the best values on the market today in its range, and then some. Yes, I’ve heard PASS, AB, Krell, Threshold, Nakamichi Stasis, Audio Note, and lots of vintage stuff. Cary Audio nailed it with this new SA-200.2 amp for larger speakers.
If there is any more interest, i’ll report back at 200 hours.
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I guess it is a matter of taste.
I've heard the SA 200.2 and found it lacking something. Certainly not in the same class as Pass Labs, Threshold or Krell.
I heard it with a Cary SLP 05.
Given the way it sounded, I am surprised it runs in full Class A bias for the first 75 watts.
I'd say stick to the legacy tube products for Cary and none of the newer ones. Their digital especially is finnicky and has glitches aplenty which the support staff are unable and unwilling to fix.
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Interconnect cable swaps:
This Cary SLP-98L / SA-200.2 combo sure is sensitive to interconnect cable swaps. Brighter and more forward sound stage with good silver, softer and more gentle, different sound stage with good copper interconnects. Interesting. Sounds even more "tube" like with Copper cables on this setup and my speakers, notably different in fact. Less SS like with Copper interconnects. As soft and smooth on the mids and top end now compared to my former upgraded SLI-80 tube amp, but with much fuller sound and much more low end. Best of both worlds.
My SLP-98L preamp does have a few upgrades to the main caps/hexfreds/volume control inside and 50s Sylvania NOS tubes makes it sound nicer than stock, for sure.
Re-used my silver interconnects from my former Cary tube amp, and now at 200 hours just tried a cable swap back to copper cables. You can really tune the sound between these two components just with cable swaps on this combo. Made as much change as cap & tube swaps.
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Update: Wow, after 200 hours of break-in seems the Cary SA-200.2 (solid state amp) is sensitive to different interconnect cables and it can produce different sounds accordingly, soft or brighter but never harsh. As a result, I’ve been messing with swapping out recent silver / silver plated copper cables for the older legacy Cardas Golden Cross interconnects for sources and between my Cary SLP-98 and Cary SA-200.2 solid state amplifier. Once I started playing with different interconnects, now I actually like the sound of the SLP-98 tube pre and new SA-200.2 solid state amp combo better in some ways compared to my former upgraded Cary SLI-80 Signature which was nice. The newer SA-200.2 has a very full sound, great top end, and goes deep. Want more midrange? Trying some of the right Cardas or other cables you may like, you can bring out the midrange on the SA-200.2 to sound even more like some of the Cary tube amps for more of the Cary "house sound" as some people call it. Try different interconnects and see what happens. Results can vary from one system to the next and highly dependent on what speakers you are running and some people hear things differently of course. |
Removed the stock harsh sounding stock EH 6SN7s tubes, started rolling. Settled on a quad set of NOS Sylvania 6SN7GTs.
In
the same manner as occurred with my heavily upgraded SLI-80 integrated
tube amp, all of the sudden the veil came off the new Cary SLP-98L tube
preamp and SA-200.2 amplifier. Instantly more open, airy, more lunch,
FULL and DEEP sound with an extra tall and wide sound stage presented
itself. I never thought the stock tubes with the SLP-98 sounded "harsh". Suddenly today my system is sounding a little bit "harsh"--?? I'd be interested to know if you buy your own NOS Sylvania 6SN7GTs. At Tube Depot they're $189.95--EACH. Is that nuts--or are they really worth that? |
I found a source who tucked away a collection of NOS tubes, and bought a sextet matched set to get four for the SLP-98 plus two spares. It's hard to explain what "worth that" or "better" is without knowing more about the rest of the system. I'd say if your amplifier and speakers are not revealing, maybe it might not be worth it. If you notice changes with interconnects, maybe you'll see a difference with tubes - just a thought... no science, just trial/error... but here is what I did. What I discovered is the tube and interconnect changes were more noticeable on my SLP-98 than my former SLI-80 integrated and other amps I've tried with my existing system and speakers. I was sort of reserved starting out right after buying a brand new preamp, but a good friend with a very large tube collection let me borrow/try several different brands/types, and he was correct, these particular early 50s bottom getter NOS Sylvanias sounded really nice. I also read some of the same type Raytheons are similar if not the same type of signature sound and can be had for less $. There was an old magazine article floating around on that from the 80s people passed around that confirmed this too about the Raytheons. I still want to try some early RCAs too, just for grins. Good luck. |
After five months of running the Cary V12R tube amp in Triode mode with recent cap upgrades to the new Mundorf Silver-Gold caps, I decided pull the V12R and put the SA-200.2 solid state amp back in rotation for a while. Wow, had forgotten how nice this combination is with the SLP-98L really are. The SA-200.2 amp in combo with the active tube preamp produces a HUGE sound stage, deep, wide, really open. If you like having a subwoofer in your system, the SA-200.2 moves fast and blends well with a good subwoofer. yes, still liking the NOS Sylvania tubes in the preamp, and yes I’d say it’s worth it particularly now with them broken in it just makes the SA-200.2 amp sound that much better having tubes on the front end. Still liking this combo a lot, for anyone considering it, they were right to recommend it. They synergy of these two pieces is spot on particularly when the right interconnects get between these two components. Now using Cardas Golden Cross RCAs. Still detailed but has a quality sound. After a good warm up, sounds very smooth. Voices sound great too. |
UPDATE: Three years later in 2020. Nice combination, 1/2 way "there" just did not keep ones interest. It was really a great combo to try, and would be ideal for highly inefficient speakers. Has it's applications for sure. Very few SS amps can come close IMO, and they are big $$$. Want "tube sound", go tube :)
TODAY:
>>went back to all-tube preamp and all-tube mono amplifiers. Missed all-tube "engaging" sound". <<. |
Transistors simply aren't tubes. Period. Although Nelson Pass uses some smart techniques to get close, it's nearly always mentioned that a class A SS amp, the SIT stuff, Class A XA25...well regarded items all...get "close" to a tube amp's sound always with the mention of "the tighter bass from solid state amps." I use a little single ended amp with a tube preamp with solid state subs (efficient speakers...there ya go...I don't think tube subwoofer amps exist, although you could use a couple of Ampeg SVT bass amps or some large mono tube amps maybe) and there is no missing bass "control" at all. |
Hi Wolf,
Incidentally, on that note I live in Pass land. :) Threshold, Pass, XA, Firstwatt, all around me, everywhere here. Along with competing AudioNote custom tube amp builders (battle of the amp builders..hahah) Grew up working at the same speaker factory back in the 80s where it all kinda started..., prior with Dr. Von Heil (FET transistors). My grandfather worked on those FET projects back east too, in-depth. For one, i'm truly amazed at what Nelson has managed to do and how "close" he gets with transistors. Agree on XA25, maybe more so than SIT-3. More recent proof in getting closer is his recent DIY stuff with "NuTube", tube is tube. Look up NuTube DIY preamps if you have not done so. He is no stranger to tube :) Transistors is just what he does, well.
Even tried some of DH Inspires as a follow-on to some earlier Triode Cary stuff. All done with that now Achieving the right combo of tube power with dynamics has been the goal for me (with my particular cutsom designed hybrid electrostatic speakers), much closer now with local design dual mono amps. Back to pentode now - not triode. With the right bias, the right triode input tubes, pentode power is hitting the sweat spot now for me - lush with notable dynamics while retaining deep wide sound stage. Build all my own speakers past 40 years. I run dual custom built Scanspeak solid state powered subs myself, very musical too. Good fun! |
I have an SLP 98 P with all factory upgrades and premium NOS tubes, Popes, Sylvania 6SN7 tubes Brimmar and Bugle boy small tubes into Pass Labs SS amps. I stopped looking for anything else. Tube pre, solid state SS is the very best of both worlds IMHO.
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Last year I rested my Had "sep" tube amp to try a Pass XA-25...the Pass, a somewhat unique and original design unlike any other pass design (including First Watt stuff), is an absolutely brilliant thing that sounds astonishingly good...I still swap in my Had amp sometimes, but man...the XA-25 gets most of my attention these days. Highly recommended. By the way, I use an original series Schiit Freya preamp and having tried many tubes (including NOS Sylvanias...nice tubes) I prefer NOS GEs.
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