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Cary SLI-80 F1 & Special Edition or CJ Combo?

Hrllo all, I am trying to put togther my forst tube system and I am pondering over the CARY SLI-80 F1 Integrated or putting together second hand seprates off Agon here consiting of the Conrad Johnson MV60SE amp & PV15 Tube line stage. Both will be around the same $$$. What is going to give me better sound and peformance? Astheticallly I am leaning toward the SLI-80. I am matching to a new pair of Dali Helicon 400 MK's. Using MAC & DAC as well as turntable. Thanks in advance for the advice. Bye the way Cary or CJ is where my head is at.
romel3
macdadtexas
1,794 posts
 
CJ is great stuff, but I'm a huge Cary guy now. I love the warm sound it produces. All of the F1 stuff from Upscale Audio is stellar.
romel3 OP
5 posts
 
Thanks. The Cary is great stuff but I'm struggling with the idea of an integrated over separets. Especially CJ stuff.
mechans
3,048 posts
 
CJ has a distinctly different sonic than Cary. Have you auditioned them? I would think that you would find the difference substantial enough to drive your decision.
FWIW an integrated can be a very smart decision it spares you the expense of a pre and avoids interconnects.
romel3 OP
5 posts
 
Thanks again. I have not had the chance to audition them yet. I know what I like but have not had the chance to hear them both. The Cary seems to be more of a "pure" tube amp with P/P wiring and no circuit boards. Thereason I through the CJ in the mix is that for the same price as the F1 I could get 9/10 mid-level CJ pre (PV15) & amp (MV60SE w/6550 output tubes. I already have excellent Kimber interconnects. I have read all the reviews and I know that Dennis Had at Cary is one of the Grandaddy's of the tube scene and highly respected. But then so it CJ for simple circuits and top drawer parts. I just don't know the difference in sound. I guess I'm just programmed to think seperates are inherently better. Maybe I should look at Cary seperates?$$$$.
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