Looking for warm tube preamp (should pair well with Pass power amp), budget $6000

If you want to get a warmer sound from your SLP-05 try some NOS tubes. I love the old Sylvania tubes in it. Fuller and smoother then the stock tubes and just all around better sound. If you want a much warmer sound try NOS RCA tubes. I prefer the detail of Sylvania’s but everyone has a different taste and depends on the rest of your equipment. Try Brent at audiotubes.com.

there are NO NOS tubes you can sub for a 6H30 except a 6N6P - most would go into meltdown at the operating points they run at: they are mini power tubes. None would have anything like as low an output impedance. Their characteristics are very difficult to even come close to.

For the Cary SLP-05, it uses 6 6SN7’s.  Two for the balanced inputs and for for the balanced line section.  Not sure why your mentioning the 6H30 and 6N6P.  What am I missing?  I was only talking about retuning the SLP-05. 

Aric Audio Motherload 2, I pair it with FW F8, F3, and Pass XA25. Fantastic!

I swapped in Odam coupling caps, smooth and very clear, fast and transparent.

Re: "Cary SLP-98" and "SLP-05" preamps and related "upgrades".

TUBES: The overall sound, stage, presentation, tone, texture is easily changed with these tube preamplifiers by utilizing good matched NOS/vintage or quality new issue 6SN7s / CV181s. See other Agon, Audiocircle, and Audio Afficianado threads on this.

CAPS: basic stock, older Jensen, F1 Upgrades, later Mundorf Silver-Gold / Ultimate Upgrade capacitors all sound different. Up to ~200hrs on Mundorfs to form, settle. I’m seeing members making judgement too early, not giving either unit or upgrades enough time to settle in. The sound does change after 100, 200hrs.

INTERCONNECTS: both of these preamp units can be sensitive and responsive to different OFC, OCC, Silver plated ICs. After tube/cap upgrades, ICs become even more notable. Not as beneficial with lower grade stock tubes and stock caps.

Both are decent preamp units in stock form with stock tubes and caps, however can be greatly improved with much better 6SN7s, upgraded caps. After these are done, great interconnects truly show up. All three upgrades are totally worth it IME.

Anyone here who’s done all of these upgrades knows how it brings greater value out of your entire system, components, and speakers. Sure enjoy mine, fwiw.

For the Cary SLP-05, it uses 6 6SN7’s.

mea culpa - should have read more carefully I assumed ARC