Cary Rocket 88 & n.e.w. P-3: Best tube combo?

When I had the P-3 I used a stock 12BH7 as the 12AU7 tubes are the important ones sonically. For those I use Mullard CV4003 which are the military version of the 12AU7.

I'm not sure if you are aware but Cary offers an upgrade to the P-3 which involves, among other things, circuit changes that replace the 12AU7 tubes with 6CG7. According to Dennis Had this will take the P-3 to an entirely new level. I believe the cost was $650.

I was thinking about buying the new Cary p3 preamp. However I have never heard it. Should i get it or an Audio Research LS 7 preamp?

I like details, wide open sound stage, and clarity.

To my ears go with the P3 Taplina. I owned the P3 for awhile and borrowed a LS7. I liked the P3 much better. It was more transparent and open. I didn't like the LS 7 at all in my system. It was detailed but sounded like a blanket was over my speakers.

Do you recall if your NEW P3 tube preamp was phase inverting?

You can try different power tubes - I have a Rocket 88 R version, same basic configuration as the 88 non-R. I had a quad of 6550's in there at one time. Now I'm running Penta Labs KT-88's and the sound is quite different. I recommend highly getting decent power tubes. Assume you know also that the 1692's are just for show