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Cary SLI-80 tweaks and improvements?

Hello all,

I have an older Cary SLI-80 that I'm trying to find a path forward to a wider sound stage and improved dynamics.  In comparing it to my Decware Taboo, yes, it has a boat-load more power available, however, the Decware has a much wider sound stage, better channel separation and decay from instruments like cymbals, compared to the Cary.  The channel separation is much better on the Decware and this is especially apparent with songs that feature heavy panning from left to right and back again.

The Cary is running vintage Bugle Boy 6922's, vintage Sylvania 6S7N's, and Ruby 6550's.  

I have been looking at a couple of different paths forward:

Moving to EL34's or another power tube?

Upgrading the internal capacitors such as upgrading to the F1 mod?

A combination of both?

Any other ideas to try to capture the performance of the Decware are welcomed.

Thank You!

paradisecom
decooney
1,908 posts
 

1) yes, you are replacing them as I understand it.  Best to ask Cary what they do.  Personally I like the tube rectifiers but I'm sorta old school in my thinking perhaps.  

2) Grayhil is the updated input selector switch, as pehare noted above.  

I'm not sure where my local tech sourced the volume control and he's long retired and out of all that now. Just doing the caps, input selector, silver wiring at the back to one set of inputs and possibly speaker terminal too can help.  

As noted, there is nothing wrong with the stock form amp, has it's own warmed signature the stock way too. The new/upgrades add a bit more transparency and detail IF that's what you are looking for. Some are NOT.  A personal taste imo.    I originally had the Jensen oilers in mine and later went to the Mundorf caps. The older-older gen1 version Jensen oilers should be replaced, they had some batches fail years back. This leaned many to try the newer Mundorfs that had different results most seem to like.  Best to go for it and listen, see if you like it or not.  

paradisecom OP
282 posts
 

I actually like the tube rectifiers as well.  They just look cooler, in my opinion.  😎 

I was looking at this photo which shows the internally modified bits and it appears that it matches the diagram I have where the Hexfreds replace the existing standard cylindrical diodes.  It shows the rectifier tubes are still in place on this example:

Cary Audio SLI-80 Signature Stereo Tube Integrated Amplifier - The Music Room (tmraudio.com)

I can see what Cary has to say for clarification, just to make sure, though. 

paradisecom OP
282 posts
 

Cary informed me that the hexfreds just replace the existing diodes and the tube rectifiers stay.

 

Also, does anybody know the plate voltage in these?  I can't find a stated value any where.  It would be helpful for trying different tubes.

paradisecom OP
282 posts
 

I found the plate voltage for mine.  Measured it at 588v.  So for future reference, there it is.

immatthewj
1,484 posts
 

Coincidentally I just got an email from Cary Direct about the SLI80, and in a review a customer is raving about the soundstage and the Hexfreds:

"I am currently a couple of weeks in with this great amplifier in my system. I am using it in mainly ultra-linear mode (but also like the triode option), driving Audiovector QR7se's. I have a Bluesound node acting as a streamer with a Chord Qutest DAC in the mix. Wow. This amp sings. I went with the Hexfred upgrade, but all else is based. The soundstage is incredible. The Cary team was also great with the purchase process, and the amplifier arrived less than a week after ordering. Very happy with this product."

 

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