2. amps-preamps
  3. 1392939645

Cary SLP98P not working with Audio Research VT100

HELP!

OK, a few months ago after doing a bunch of research to build a new system in a smaller room, I bought some Harbeth SHL-5's and an Audio Research VT100 MKIII amp to match with my existing Cary SLP98P F1 preamp.

When I first got the combo together they sounded amazing, but after a few hours of playing the sound started to degrade then it got really wierd:

The Audio Resarch amp started to pulse. The tubes would two at a time sequentially pulse lighter (losing thier blue hue) and the sound was terrible pulsing on and off as well. If I leave the system off for a long time then start again, the process starts again.

If the amp is attached only to the Oppo 105 I have on the rack, it has no issues. If the Cary is connected to the old Parasound amp I have on the rack, it works fine.

The Cary just came back from an update at Cary, it was doing this before the update, and this seems to have had no effect.

What could this be?

Some suggested DC from the preamp, but I just got it back, and would that build up?

HELP!!
macdadtexas

Showing 4 responses by macdadtexas

macdadtexas OP
1,794 posts
 
OK, when I remove both from the APC S15 and plug them both into a PS Audio Duet no problems for hours.

I'll try different cables, I still have my trusty Kimber Kable Hero's.

The impedence for the amp is the same as Cary's 120S, so I'm guessing that's not the problem.

My preamp is phase inverting, and I just read the manual again for the AR amp, and it states not to use a phase inverting preamp, but does not say why, and I can't find any info on the internet about that. Seems this would have come up previously with these two companies.

thanks.
macdadtexas OP
1,794 posts
 
Opus, did you find the cause?
macdadtexas OP
1,794 posts
 
ZD542, what is meant by SE?
macdadtexas OP
1,794 posts
 
Al et al, since moving both power cable to a very meat and potatoes PS Audio Duet I dug out of the closet, no problems at all. I am about to have some other work done to my house, I'm going to have a dedicated line put in, and I'll use that for the power amp only.

Thanks for all of your help, it actually has worked perfectly for the past 4 days, and sounds wonderful, the combination is exactly what I was hoping for.

Of course it's not a set of big Maggies in a big room, but it still sounds very good. I do miss my Maggies, I may need to put an addition on the house.
More to discover