To all you Cary SLI 80 owners, I'm looking for tube suggestions


Hello all, I have a one year old Cary SLI 80 HS and I have not changed a thing on it. Same tube set it came from the factory with. KT88's are Psvane, input tubes are JJ's.  It is a sublime match with my Volti Razz speakers. 

My question is this, what have you all tried with rolling tubes? Anyone try output variants? EL34's, KT 77 or 66's. Or have you changed out input tubes and noted and enjoyable difference?

Any and all suggestions would be welcome.

Thank you,

Doug

doyle3433

Showing 1 response by trivema

KT-88, I’ve found Gold Lion warmer vs Shuguang Nature and Treasure. Have a pair of KR Audio 300B, absolutely superb. Never heard their KT 88, I would imagine thar are also superb, however they are pricey.

EL-34, I’ve found St Petersburg Svetlana the best, followed by Tesla and RFT. Never owned the Mullard xf2. Gold Lion KT 77s are very nice, a more modern clear, clean transparent sound than EL34.

Driver/Signal tubes, my favorite are NOS Tung Sol black bottle round plates, mouse ears and WGTA, followed by Sylvania GTA, then Raytheon WGT.

Never heard an SLI 80, but I run the tubes above in a Dennis Had Inspire KT 88 and a Cary 300B SEI. Similar construction since all designed by Dennis.