Using solid state rectifiers on Cary SLI80 Amplifier

IIRC, you can buy a solid state rectifier that simple plugs into the existing tube socket.  I forgot who makes it, but perhaps a google search will yield more info.

Your willing to give stuff a shot, try a super rectifier


Oldhvymec I was going to suggest that but people on here will think I'm just a fanboy, but it would make a substantial difference in the bass if he ran a super rectifier with 3b22 or 866a tubes in it.

I appreciate the comments and expressed concerns much of which have been part of my own thinking. And i realize that in the opinion of Cary staff they thought the voicing would would be a generalized most appropriate sound for the end users. The fact that they decided on solid state rectification, though, must be based on some reason of sonic improvement. In any case, it ultimately must result, good or bad, in change which can only be good or bad in the opinion of each individual. Most in this hobby seem, or at least claim, to  believe that listening tastes are so individual, no single component or combination of pieces can be the most appropriate for everyone. As much as I appreciate the Cary I’m not convinced that it fits me perfectly so if there is some way to achieve that goal it makes sense to me to find it. To the extent that I understand it, changing to ss rectifiers will not result in anything more than faster response and not an increase in sustained power increases to the various internal components, trying the ss rectifier seems like a relatively safe experiment. To avoid the initial surge, use of the Variac that I discussed earlier should accommodate that concern. I’m not an expert in any sense of the word so much of this argument is based on assumptions. That being said, I invite any comments that may keep me from doing something likely to be regretted. 

Your willing to give stuff a shot, try a super rectifier


Oldhvymec I was going to suggest that but people on here will think I'm just a fanboy, but it would make a substantial difference in the bass if he ran a super rectifier with 3b22 or 866a tubes in it.

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I'm a fan that's the reason I suggested it... What other people think and 5.00 dollars will get you a cup of coffee, right.. :-)

Me, I just like the weird $hit..:-).

Regards

When he was still there, I discussed this topic a length with the former designer who made the initial design changes with the SLI-80 introducing ss rectification. I owned a SLI-80 Sig with many mods and before the rectification change was made official on that amp. I did like the presentation and bloom, and decided not to make the rectifier mod from tube to ss on mine. I instead sold that amp along with another high power Cary and moved to tube monos with ss rectification. While my new amps are a little faster with more bass control, sometimes I do miss the characteristics of tube rectification, often times finding myself looking to pick up another amp with it to swap in/out every once in a while. Grass may seem greener. A different sound, I like both for different reasons, fwiw.