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.

+1 Cary Audio. Look at CAD 300SEI. Single Ended Triode Class A, full on tube experience for your Heresys. Upgrade the 300b to Gold Lion’s, and some nice NOS 6SN7s, Tung-Sol, Sylvania or RCA. Rated at 15 wpc but probably only outputs 3-5 wpc at normal listening levels. I have the high output LX rated at 20 wpc paired with Forte IIIs and KR 300b’s, simply sublime! 
 

SLI-80HS is a great amp, more versatile tube options as @decooney notes above, but is a push/pull Class AB design with more power output. Rated at 40 wpc in Triode mode and 80 wpc in Ultra Linear, a lot of juice for Klipsch. A lower power SET Class A will give you a more midrange centric tube experience.

Both designed by Cary Audio founder Dennis Had, a true pioneer in bringing tube amps back from the SS era. I have one of his Inspire KT-88 Firebottle amps he builds in a little shop after retiring from Cary that runs 6L6, 6550, EL 34, KT77 and KT 88 output tubes with a single 6SN7 or 6SL7 driver tube. 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.

Cary Audio SKI-80 HS…PL Dialogue…both great…

+1 Trivema re the Cary 300 SEI. I run mine with WE 300Bs and the results are wonderful with Klipsch Belles, which I sold last year, and Heresy I, Heresy II and Volti Rivals which I still own.

The bottom line is we can all tell you our stories and what we hear...    But your hearing and listening room may not even produce what you want to hear from our equipment if in your room...  The bottom line is try and go and listen to a few and see if you can bring it home and try it.. Not Until you hear in your own space will you know if tubes are for you...And listen to what others are saying about tubes and try and get close to best tubes when you listen to  first time..Try and find others that knows these units you are thinking about and chat with them a while on their tube selection ....I was lucky enough to start with Raven Audio and owner Dave knew his machines so well and I explained that I had tinnitus and he would send me tubes to see what matched my hearing and give me best quality sound..I had Osprey for 5 years and Dave over those years shared with me some very nice tubes to keep me happy ..Like anything you purchase over time you will get tired of it and want a change and nothing big but little detail will spark your hearing again ..Just a change of tubes weather power tubes or pre amp ...just 2 pre amp and what a change can make...But if you get  hooked with tube amp sound chances are you enjoy many years of sound you never heard from a solid state...But remember not all songs play through tubes as they do through solid state .. I find tubes break down a song and segregate sound to speakers and solid state keeps it more tighter in sound..This is what I hear from tubes vs solid state..  I also find that some songs I luv and using KT88 tubes they are to airy and need say a 6550 power tubes ..Nothing is perfect ... + / _ no matter what you listen to..