CAT 1990 model - Highs rolled off??

No way! The CAT is a super smooth pre. If by chance you have always used a solid state pre, then maybe it may sound rolled off. But what you are hearing is highs that are what they are and not boosted to so airy or detailed. I had a Classe 5 pre before and after I tried the Cat there was no going back. Cat Sig. Mk. II However you should consider the age of the tubes. They maybe getting tired and slightly dark. Good luck.

Check the tubes, play with other tube brands,at V6 V7 position, and you will be rewarded, I have listened to various incarnation af this CAT, [i have the Signature, which is upgraded to MK 3 now,] and i assure you that frequency roll off is not CAT like..check other parameters first in your system pls. One happy CAT owner, enjoy the music !

Hello, Ken Stevens' reply to the original CAT review in TAS suggests that he'd had trouble with quality control with the capacitor mgf. for his earliest models. I think something past SN 1000 has the better caps. The original review commented on the high frequencies so maybe you listened to an early line production unit?