Is the Cary SLP-05 still relavant?

+1 avanti...funny but true imho as well....

Hi all,
i just got a new slp-05 for to audition. After a few hours of break in it sounds very pleasing so far. I am running balanced and the high gain does limit me to about 35% on the volume knob for reasonable listening levels. Does this result in any issues I am missing, In other words, why is high preamp gain an issue if you just have the pot set at 30% instead of say 60 % with an amp that has adjustable gain? I am driving a pass X250.8.

Excellent test pilot thanks. So is running the slp-05 volume pot between 20-35% not ideal and result in additional noise or degradation etc? 
The combo is sounding pretty great so far although from startupmy voltage meter has been showing 250 not 210 and current is 68 not 60, I emailed Cary today on that.

I think that I answered that by looking into the rockwell’s.. gives a much better range of volume control not such large steps. I will try to track some down here without paying excessive shipping from uk. Thanks again.

After spending a week with 5he SLP-05 I can enthusiastically say relevance is not age or recent press review dependent. Great designs are timeless unless they are obsoleted by technological breakthrough and I don’t believe 5hat has happened with preamps since the Cary came out. I agree with avanti1960 the sound is neutral, detailed and very musically engaging. This piece sounds fantastic in my system.

I am ordering the Rockwell attenuators as the gain is too high, there does seem to be some discrepancy as to the exact gain but it is definitely a bit high with the Pass amp. Well back to a snowy listening session.

Update: I put the -10dB Rockwell attenuators in and that worked great. Volume knob now between 10 and 12 o’clock on most listening and SLP-05 balance set at 100%.
I still haven’t tried any other tubes but may look at that rectifier tube @avanti. My vinyl source material is amazing through the Cary and I have a new streamer/Dac coming tomorrow so that should be fun too. Are you guys leaving the SLP-05 on 24/7? Manual recommends yes but seems like there is a lot of disagreement on this. If I will be away for more than 12 hours I have been shutting unit off.

Thanks for power off thoughts. I am planning on trying some Sylvania 7n7’s with adapter if they ever show up. I am probably at about 100 hours now.

analoguehaven...I am not a preamp expert, lots of opinions here and in the press. If you are looking for a neutral, very musically pleasing and gorgeous tube pre under $10k then the Cary should definitely be on you short list to evaluate in your system. Only caveats: it has alot of tubes, as mentioned above gain is high and no phono stage but at this price point most everyone running vinyl will have a phonostage. I am totally loving mine too since it hit my system a month ago.

Old thread I know but my SLP-05 just blew some fuses and looks like the rectifier tube is bad….bummer…using a Classe’ preamp while I wait for some new tubes and gotta say although the Classe’  is decent BUT I am really really missing the Cary…..music is just not as live, detailed and engaging….The Cary is a fabulous piece of musical hardware…..in every way incredibly still relevant….doubt I will part with it as long as it keeps going…lots of tubes to screw with (i.e. roll or spend $ on) but very sweet where it counts.

Thanks, agree totally, on my solid state pre anyway. 

Yeah the stock Sovtek lasted 6 months, guess for less than $20 that is what you get. I ordered another sovtech to be used as a test for any issues and one of the new Mullard GZ34. Replacing rectifier did solve so I pulled the sovtek and threw the Mullard in. I will hunt around for a nos Mullard but looks like they are pretty expensive.

Not sure if sound improved but I spent the night listening to Analogue Production 45 rpm’s and I am once again in aural heaven….and like you said it is a visual masterpiece for sure.

Did you ever put any higher grade fuses in?It seems to me fuse upgrades in a power supply would have limited sonic impact but ?

Thanks. Some swear by them but I am skeptical in a power supply. Glad I didn’t have any high $ ones in there anyway I guess since I blew several.