CAT SL-1 vs. FS Presence Deluxe & SET/hi-eff spk

In my system which admittedly is not high gain, high efficiency, there is hiss with the CAT. It is not so loud as to be annoying and you cannot hear it at the listening position if music is playing, but in comparison to the F.S., I believe that the self-noise does contribute to one of its flaws, which is (by comparison,only) reduced transparency.

Hi Rayhall, thank you for the experienced impressions, it is a BIG help.

Unfortunately, the slight hiss you hear on the Vandy 3A Sigs(my brother has them) will be ~4x louder on my speakers. Maybe more.

Then again, Kitch used the SL-1 with speakers/system just as sensitive and revealing as mine(or more) without any hiss, so it could just be a matter of needing to try some different tubes.

Regardless, these are two top pre's. Personally, I think I'll start with the FS Deluxe and work from there. Thanks everyone.

Not in a high efficiency system, but I have both preamps (CAT Ultimate Mk I and FS Presence Deluxe Mk II 4.0) and if you've read all the posts on the comparison of these two, you have probably been reading a lot of my responses on threads. With my Vandersteen 3A Signature Speakers (86db-87db sensitivity) and Pass Aleph 4 amp (20dB gain), there is hiss with the CAT which can be heard at the listening position when music is NOT playing. Both are excellent preamps, the CAT exceling in the bass and up through the lower mids and the midrange. It has the best deep bass that I have heard in a preamp and a bass weight that others which I have tested don't. Excellent dynamics. It is smooth and a little bloomy. No upper frequency bite or harshness. Highs are extended and detailed. F.S. is more detailed -- not as smooth as CAT. The bass is not as deep -- at least as not in my system. What the F.S. has over the CAT is imaging and transparency, which is probably due to the difference in noise. FS is absolutely silent and gives the sense of a totally black background. CAT will sound slightly veiled in comparison to the FS. Soundstage painted by the F.S. is very wide and instruments and voices -- particularly voices -- can be more precisely located within the stage. CAT also has a wide stage -- perhaps deeper than F.S. -- but imaging is more diffuse. F.S., particularly with the right tubes, has excellent dynamics, maybe better than CAT, but not the bass. You'll need to tube roll both in order to get the best from each.
In my system which admittedly is not high gain, high efficiency, there is hiss with the CAT. It is not so loud as to be annoying and you cannot hear it at the listening position if music is playing, but in comparison to the F.S., I believe that the self-noise does contribute to one of its flaws, which is (by comparison,only) reduced transparency. Which do I listen to more frequently? The F.S.

I think the CD Taper version is essential with CD Sources. I could never get the lower setting right with the standard CAT settings of 26db gain. Aside from that, the pre is quiet and one of the very best available.

Thanks Kitch,

That is reassuring to hear. I had a hunch that the reviewer's experience might be an anomaly, possibly a noisy tube or two. There's no way the SL-1 could have sustained it's long term status with such an apparent drawback. Especially at that price range.

It's a real toss-up between the CAT or FS for me. The used CAT for sale right now is closer to a current model, but $2k more. While the FS Deluxe is a mkI and would require a hefty upgrade to bring it to current status(if possible) making their total cost probably the same.

I have used several versions of the CAT SL-1 preamp over the years and now have an Ultimate Mark 2. I use it with my Wilson WP7's whose sensitivity is 92 dB/watt and have never heard noise, although the WP7's are not as sensitive as your speakers. You might want to get a CAT with the "CD taper" volume control where the volume control has smaller steps up to a 12:00 volume control setting, so that you have more range in the control.

I had the CAT SL-1 Mk2 for about a month with the 97dB XLH 1812 speakers.
No noise at all. The CAT has a 92dB S/N ratio and it shows.

Amplifiers were DeHavilland GM-70's and my own direct-coupled, parafed 45 SET.

My overall impression of the CAT was that it took control of both amps and helped them display all they had with a spooky sense of air and naturalness.

I will grab one in a minute when funds allow.