PrimaLuna EVO 400 v Cary SLI-100

@mattsca I’ve never owned anything other than solid state but I am increasingly intrigued with tubes. Thinking of "investing" $5K or so in an all-tube integrated to (at least initially) drive my Klipsch Heresys. Any thoughts on these two choices? Is there another choice in this range?

Yeah, how about running neither of these specific amps mentioned.

An acquaintance I met designed the SLI-100 for Cary Audio with KT150s. Was the very last amp he designed before he departed the company. We talked about it some when he wrapped up that design. Appears it still designed to run KT150s. Look at the spec, other tubes are not listed. However the little brother amp can run other tubes. Gives more options to you. Look up SLI-80 and SLI-80HS both.

The SLI-80HS is still available, and still lists compatibility with all of these, 4 – KT88 Output Tubes (or 6550, EL34, 6CA7, KT77, KT90, KT120). More flexible.

As an owner of mono amps designed to run only KT150s, I will say my former SLI-80 integrated was a fun little integrated, and I enjoyed rolling tubes and upgraded caps in it. Sounded wonderful with the right speaker and tube pairing. I dont think you’d realize a benefit running the SLI-100 with KT150s if you want an older type of "tube" sound. Getting KT150s to sound like KT88s or EL34/KT77s, is not quite the same type of sound. Since you own Hersey speakers, I felt comfortable replying. Went through all of this with a friend and his iterations of amps with Herseys.

If you don’t buy a PrimaLuna, and like the Cary integrateds, I’ll share this. A buddy of mine owned Hersey 2,3,4s and still has the H4s how. He’s run his H4s with many tubes, lower and higher power tubes. All of these. 2A3, 45, 807s, 6L6s, EL34, 300B, and KT88s, KT77, and other output tubes prior on his Hersey H2s, H3s. He taught me some about KT77s years back. I shared this with others who like them too, and many still using KT77s today as their go-to tube for music listening time.

If you keep your solid state amp, and want a tube amp too, you could go with a Cary SLI-80 or SLI-80HS integrated and use KT77 output tubes in it for a rewarding sound. Others here with SLI-80 integrateds, or KT77 tube fans might chime in here.

Photo:
It might help to know the SLI-80Hs was originally marketed and demonstrated around the Hersey Vintage series speakers and paired up together. A few photos are still out there, if it helps to see it paired up.

Look what’s sitting over there on the back wall, Hersey.

others on the Cary site, old show/showroom photos, Forte’ paired with SLI-80.

@trivema ...Different from SLI-80 as the Firebottle is a Single Ended Pentode Class A putting out only 10-12 wpc. If you find one of these used, buy IT! Paired with the Heresys, you’ll learn what tube amps are all about.

@mattsca If you want any one of these amps noted by @trivema  , feel free to message me, my colleague with the Hersey speakers is thinking he is going to put his Inspire by Dennis Had Firebottle amps up for sale on USAM including - Inspire 300B, Inspire KT88 amps. Also he still has a standard Cary SLI-80 that will be listed too. The Klipsch Hersey 4s will be listed too. He's stalling a bit, and loves all of it, would love to keep it all - but can't. He had to change his room and went to a basic integrated setup for his family, and making life changes. Feel free to msg. 

To @mattsca one question I forgot to ask. What SS integrated/amplification do you have now, and do plan to keep it to rotate back to once in a while if you buy a tube amp?

The reason for asking is many of us own and use more than one amp, and if we go to low-power tube amps (for example) we can also go back to our other higher power SS or tube amps if we crave additional power drive once in a while.

If you are thinking of completely replacing your SS amp, reselling that, then maybe a higher power vs. lower power integrated tube amplifier might be a consideration, [if that makes sense], and if that’s what you are more use to with your Klipsch today.

Low power tube amps, say under 8 watts, is its own game, tubes, speciality amps, and some end up chasing that for years, trying many different amps, expensive WE300B tubes and more. Then hoarding spare tubes, more expenses. IF you share a little more about what your wants/needs/plans are, more here can assist after going down many of these different rabbit holes many of us never pop out of for decades. Next thing ya know, there are 3-5 more tube amps lying around, relatively quickly, its a disease, LOL :)

To @mattsca if you are enamored by the weight and body elements your MC312 amp and Rel subs offer today on your main system, I think its going to take a special tube amplifier with real iron transformers to capture your attention with your Hersey speakers.  This is where personal taste with trial and error begins.  

A friend of mine with all 3 models of Herseys has been through about ten different lower power SET, PSE Triode, and higher power Push Pull tube amps with his Herseys. All of the best tubes in the world too, btw. Each amp type and design gave its own presentation and result. He loved them all for different reasons, delicacy, and more.  Many lacked drive, with "tradeoffs" he reports.   Go figure, today he runs a higher power integrated solid state amp for other reasons, yet now realizes some of the differences going back full circle to where he started. Now has an entire room full of tubes to get rid of, fwiw.    

Best of luck on the journey. :)