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Post by mshump on Aug 15, 2016 23:12:42 GMT -5
All the talk over tubes over the last few months got me interested. I started researching a few months ago. I finally narrowed it down to wanting a preamp and wanted remote control and at least one set of balanced inputs and outputs , both are not real common unless you want to sink some extra bucks into it. I finally came across Cary audio, recertified gear. I found a SLP-03 and it does have a balanced set of inputs and outputs and a remote. According to the Cary site they go through a thorough recertification process and new tubes are installed.
I replaced my beloved XSP-1, My first initial impressions were what hell did I just do ! Carey claims 100 hr burn in for the tubes, so far I have about 6 hrs and wow did this smooth out.
So far my impressions are very positive. There is more of a smoothness to the music, the instruments are more pronounced. Overall the sound is much more lifelike to me and my wife, The soundstage is a bit wider and more pronounced, I imagine that will get a little wider over time. I think I'm going to enjoy this.
I haven't listened to CD's or LP's yet. Tonight was only listening from the computer via JRiver.
I think the XSP-1 is one hell of a preamp and the Cary when new retailed for almost 4 times its price and should sound much better. The difference isn't that much more. If I didn't get the deal I got I wouldn't be as impressed.
Now I do have to blame a few people for this purchase, Novisnick, Boomzilla, audiobill, and bluemeanies, with all their posts about tubes, but also thank them in the same breath.
Mark
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Post by novisnick on Aug 15, 2016 23:56:14 GMT -5
All the talk over tubes over the last few months got me interested. I started researching a few months ago. I finally narrowed it down to wanting a preamp and wanted remote control and at least one set of balanced inputs and outputs , both are not real common unless you want to sink some extra bucks into it. I finally came across Cary audio, recertified gear. I found a SLP-03 and it does have a balanced set of inputs and outputs and a remote. According to the Cary site they go through a thorough recertification process and new tubes are installed. I replaced my beloved XSP-1, My first initial impressions were what hell did I just do ! Carey claims 100 hr burn in for the tubes, so far I have about 6 hrs and wow did this smooth out. So far my impressions are very positive. There is more of a smoothness to the music, the instruments are more pronounced. Overall the sound is much more lifelike to me and my wife, The soundstage is a bit wider and more pronounced, I imagine that will get a little wider over time. I think I'm going to enjoy this. I haven't listened to CD's or LP's yet. Tonight was only listening from the computer via JRiver. I think the XSP-1 is one hell of a preamp and the Cary when new retailed for almost 4 times its price and should sound much better. The difference isn't that much more. If I didn't get the deal I got I wouldn't be as impressed. Now I do have to blame a few people for this purchase, Novisnick, Boomzilla, audiobill, and bluemeanies, with all their posts about tubes, but also thank them in the same breath. Mark Mark, welcome to tube alley!! When the tubes get a little more broken in I think vinyl is going to just blow your mind. I've found the sound so nice with so many different types of music but the most impressive is jazz and small groups playing nice music. Ive been able to drop my db's with alot of music going full tubes but in the end a tube preamp matched with serious power is some of the best Ock - Roll youll ever hear. Can't wait for more of your impressions so Ill stop here and let you come up with your own words. Enjoy buddy! |
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Post by audiobill on Aug 16, 2016 5:39:35 GMT -5
Mark, welcome to the bright side!!
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Post by simpleman68 on Aug 16, 2016 7:02:34 GMT -5
Glad to hear they're sounding great, Mark! I tried a tube pre a few months back but it was having some issues and so I didn't get a fair test comparo. I'm loving my tube amp a bit more each day and I'm not sure the new tubes are "settled in" in yet. I have maybe 10 hours on them. The new cartridge is coming so I can listen to vinyl again. Will be my first time with a tubed rig.  Scott |
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Post by mgbpuff on Aug 16, 2016 9:27:13 GMT -5
I have the Cary SLP-03 also. I use it with MF550 solid state amps driving Revel Ultra Salon 2 speakers. The result is sublime!
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Post by adaboy on Aug 16, 2016 9:42:41 GMT -5
All the talk over tubes over the last few months got me interested. I started researching a few months ago. I finally narrowed it down to wanting a preamp and wanted remote control and at least one set of balanced inputs and outputs , both are not real common unless you want to sink some extra bucks into it. I finally came across Cary audio, recertified gear. I found a SLP-03 and it does have a balanced set of inputs and outputs and a remote. According to the Cary site they go through a thorough recertification process and new tubes are installed. I replaced my beloved XSP-1, My first initial impressions were what hell did I just do ! Carey claims 100 hr burn in for the tubes, so far I have about 6 hrs and wow did this smooth out. So far my impressions are very positive. There is more of a smoothness to the music, the instruments are more pronounced. Overall the sound is much more lifelike to me and my wife, The soundstage is a bit wider and more pronounced, I imagine that will get a little wider over time. I think I'm going to enjoy this. I haven't listened to CD's or LP's yet. Tonight was only listening from the computer via JRiver. I think the XSP-1 is one hell of a preamp and the Cary when new retailed for almost 4 times its price and should sound much better. The difference isn't that much more. If I didn't get the deal I got I wouldn't be as impressed. Now I do have to blame a few people for this purchase, Novisnick, Boomzilla, audiobill, and bluemeanies, with all their posts about tubes, but also thank them in the same breath. Mark Mark I'm so jealous  |
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Post by audiobill on Aug 16, 2016 9:51:04 GMT -5
Just thinking of how nice a tube amp would sound with your Focal Chorus 714s.........
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Post by mshump on Aug 16, 2016 10:45:19 GMT -5
Just thinking of how nice a tube amp would sound with your Focal Chorus 714s......... Lol. I have been thinking the same, but I unfortunately don't have the same income I did a couple yrs ago(retirement kinda stinks in ways) So I gotta pay this off over the next few months first. I was kind of late to your ST-70 post a couple weeks ago, I was frothing at the mouth a little when I saw it. Mark |
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Post by mshump on Aug 16, 2016 10:46:54 GMT -5
I have the Cary SLP-03 also. I use it with MF550 solid state amps driving Revel Ultra Salon 2 speakers. The result is sublime! Have you done any tube rolling with it? Mark |
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Post by simpleman68 on Aug 16, 2016 10:51:01 GMT -5
Just thinking of how nice a tube amp would sound with your Focal Chorus 714s......... Lol. I have been thinking the same, but I unfortunately don't have the same income I did a couple yrs ago(retirement kinda stinks in ways) So I gotta pay this off over the next few months first. I was kind of late to your ST-70 post a couple weeks ago, I was frothing at the mouth a little when I saw it. Mark I'll keep you in mind when I sell her down the road. Next up is tubed mono blocks. Scott |
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Post by Boomzilla on Aug 16, 2016 11:01:36 GMT -5
Keep ME in mind if you sell it down the road, Scott! LOL
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Post by simpleman68 on Aug 16, 2016 15:48:52 GMT -5
Keep ME in mind if you sell it down the road, Scott! LOL To be fair, you did express an interest in it first. Then again, if Nick sells his, it's an easy pick up.  Scott |
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Post by mgbpuff on Aug 16, 2016 18:24:37 GMT -5
I have the Cary SLP-03 also. I use it with MF550 solid state amps driving Revel Ultra Salon 2 speakers. The result is sublime! Have you done any tube rolling with it? Mark No, its still got the original Cary complement of tubes in it. |
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Post by mshump on Aug 16, 2016 20:34:28 GMT -5
All the talk over tubes over the last few months got me interested. I started researching a few months ago. I finally narrowed it down to wanting a preamp and wanted remote control and at least one set of balanced inputs and outputs , both are not real common unless you want to sink some extra bucks into it. I finally came across Cary audio, recertified gear. I found a SLP-03 and it does have a balanced set of inputs and outputs and a remote. According to the Cary site they go through a thorough recertification process and new tubes are installed. I replaced my beloved XSP-1, My first initial impressions were what hell did I just do ! Carey claims 100 hr burn in for the tubes, so far I have about 6 hrs and wow did this smooth out. So far my impressions are very positive. There is more of a smoothness to the music, the instruments are more pronounced. Overall the sound is much more lifelike to me and my wife, The soundstage is a bit wider and more pronounced, I imagine that will get a little wider over time. I think I'm going to enjoy this. I haven't listened to CD's or LP's yet. Tonight was only listening from the computer via JRiver. I think the XSP-1 is one hell of a preamp and the Cary when new retailed for almost 4 times its price and should sound much better. The difference isn't that much more. If I didn't get the deal I got I wouldn't be as impressed. Now I do have to blame a few people for this purchase, Novisnick, Boomzilla, audiobill, and bluemeanies, with all their posts about tubes, but also thank them in the same breath. Mark Mark, welcome to tube alley!! When the tubes get a little more broken in I think vinyl is going to just blow your mind. I've found the sound so nice with so many different types of music but the most impressive is jazz and small groups playing nice music. Ive been able to drop my db's with alot of music going full tubes but in the end a tube preamp matched with serious power is some of the best Ock - Roll youll ever hear. Can't wait for more of your impressions so Ill stop here and let you come up with your own words. Enjoy buddy! Nick woke up this morning with a cold so my ears are plugged and I can't turn it up a little to get it singing. So no vinyl today  Mark |
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Post by novisnick on Aug 16, 2016 20:42:52 GMT -5
Mark, welcome to tube alley!! When the tubes get a little more broken in I think vinyl is going to just blow your mind. I've found the sound so nice with so many different types of music but the most impressive is jazz and small groups playing nice music. Ive been able to drop my db's with alot of music going full tubes but in the end a tube preamp matched with serious power is some of the best Ock - Roll youll ever hear. Can't wait for more of your impressions so Ill stop here and let you come up with your own words. Enjoy buddy! Nick woke up this morning with a cold so my ears are plugged and I can't turn it up a little to get it singing. So no vinyl today Mark Now you've done it! I ALMOST feel bad spinning nothing BUT vinyl this evening. Any requests?  Hope you get to feeling better soon my friend! |
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Post by Deleted on Aug 16, 2016 20:42:59 GMT -5
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Post by brutiarti on Aug 16, 2016 20:51:52 GMT -5
I had the SS brother. Very sweet sounding preamp. I can see matching nicely with a pair of xpa-1's.
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