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Carey SLP-98

Stumbled on some reviews of the SLP-98.  In its day it got some good press.

Has it held up over the years?  Seems with the factory direct model it can be purchased with all of the "upgrades" for a still reasonable price.

Wonder if anyone has had listening experience.

Thanks

M

mdrone
russ69's avatar
russ69
3,360 posts
 

I've had only a few top pre-amps, a Quintessence, a couple of ARCs, a Parasound, and a SLP-98. By far the SLP-98 F1 is my favorite. It's not dark, surpy, or anything less than others. The 3D is off the charts great. 

ozzy62's avatar
ozzy62
2,855 posts
 

I agree with @blisshifi , the Cary is not resolving. Very tubey if that’s what you like. I brought one in around 2000 to try and I greatly preferred the AI Modulus 3a I had at the time.

mdrone OP
114 posts
 

No not looking for soup but do want a rich tone.

Tone and Timbre is the goal.

But it does sound like the newer model is different.

Also looking at ModWright and LTA; open to other suggestions in the 3-5 K price range

decooney
1,906 posts
 

@ozzy62 Interesting. My buddy had the AI Modulus 3a too, me the newer Cary SLP-98, and compared the two over time. While he changed out the stock sovtek 6922s in his AI, me 6SN7s, and another friend with Mundorf caps the newer 98, each of us found transparency without giving up tone and texture. Both were more "resolving" in upgraded form though. Better tubes and better caps changed it.  

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