Cary SLP-98 price new?

Polk432 I am wondering did you buy yours in the States or Canada and what year?

I live in Canada and thinking of it now the price I payed was 3800 Canadian dollars though with tax is $4000 all in. I did look at upscale audio for one but they jumped up the price to 4,750.00 plus with shipping and insurance and border tax makes it another $1000+ on top of that, plus exchange rate.

There is no dings in or scuffs on it, it's in mint shape. I did by some interconnects before I bought the preamp to match other set Kimber silver streaks with WBT ends on them. I needed a 1.5meter pair to reach my mono stand to my amp for the time being. So should get the best performance from the preamp from get go.

Also Brf and Polk432, what kind of tubes would you recommend a guy should get, gold lions?

And would the high output moving coil coil cartridge dynavector 20xH be too bright for the slp-98? It has an output of 2.8mv?

Polk432 that's funny my dads looking at a used Cary V12R right now, since his old luxman integrated amp finally quite on him. Then after looking at my cad120s and not having the funds for one he wants to go tube triode class A amp. Though he needs 50watts at least to fill his living room and kitchen. Which his luxman was. And can probably get a local used v12 for $2000.

Did you find any major problems with the v12 by chance?
Or is it a great amp to keep?