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Cary SLP98 Tube Question

I picked up a Cary slp98 a month or so ago.. Its my first experience with tubes, and overall I'm quite pleased with how it sounds.

It does seem to have a tendency toward sibilance though. If its present in a recording to any degree, the 98 really lets you know about it. In all the reviews etc that I've read on the slp98, I dont recall anyone mentioning this.

I had hoped that this would improve with use, but it does not seem to be the case. Its got well over a hundred hours on it now with no real change.

I'm wondering if this sibilance might be related to the stock China 6sn7 tubes. Before I invest in a set of nos tubes, I'd like to get comments from others with more tube knowledge than myself. Would replacing the tubes likely make an improvement in this area?

I'd appreciate any comments from slp98 owners past or present.

Regards,
Greg
slowdive_1
sc53
718 posts
 
What is the rest of your system? I also have the Cary SLP-98 and do not hear the sibilance you speak of. I use Quad II Classic monoblocks, Ayre CX-7e CD player, and ProAc D15 or 1SC monitors. I've also used a restored Dyna 70 with this system and the Cary and again, no sibilance. For the heck of it, though, I did buy some NOS Sylvania Chrome Domes for the preamp, and the sound seems sweeter but not night and day different at least to me.
aball
2,016 posts
 
I had an SLP98 and I agree with you it can have that tendancy. You must have good speakers - many of them will mask sibilance. A friend of mine also had a Cary SLI80 and ended up having to get rid of it due to sibilance and a general projection of the upper mids that annoyed him (the two effects are linked in our opinion). He tried MANY tubes but it just never quite went away.

Also, I don't consider brightness to be the same as sibilance. Brightness is curable in many cases but sibiliance can be stubborn. Brightness is a higher frequency issue than sibilance is.

Arthur
slowdive_1 OP
2 posts
 
Thank you for the thoughtful replies -- I do appreciate them.

The rest of my system includes: B&W n802, Bryston 14bsst, and a Myryad mc100 cd player. My listening room is treated with a number of realtraps & rpg skylines. I have addressed the first reflection points as well.

I know that many feel the B&Ws to be bright, however to my ear the system leans toward warmth. They are definitely revealing speakers though.

I have played with the toe-in a bit and it helped some. I've also tried different interconnects with some success.

I hope I'm not giving the impression that I think the Cary is unlistenable. On well recorded material, it sounds quite wonderful. I had hoped that it would be more forgiving of poorly recorded cds.

I would like to try another source before I decide the fate of the Cary. Perhaps its just revealing the shortcomings of an aging cd player.

Regards,
Greg
reb1208
518 posts
 
Check the filament voltage. Possibly it is not set correctly.
bbro
191 posts
 
The Cary SLP 98L F-1 in my system sounds tremendous without a trace of sibilance whether using an Audio Aero CD 24/192 or a simple Music Hall CD 25 into MG 20R or Totem Arros. I have used Sovtek and China 6sN7's without a problem but got MAJOR improvement with NOS Sylvania 6SN7 GTB from the '60.
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