Cary Audio SLI-80HS:
SLI-80HS Integrated Amplifier | CaryDirect
Point-to-point wiring, Triode and Ultralinear modes with toggle switches, Lots of tube rolling options, remote control, made in USA.
new integrated tube amp guidance
hey all! i am looking to make a serious upgrade to my setup in the coming months, and i am seeking advice on picking the right amp for me. budget-wise i am thinking $5000-$7000, though i am not opposed to buying used if i find the perfect match.
right now i am primarily a headphone listener but since this is a significant investment for me i am not looking for just a headphone amp, i am looking for something with enough headroom to drive all the headphones and speakers i could reasonably get my hands on as an upper middle class hifi nerd. the primaluna evo 300 is my current frontrunner, and i would consider its specs to be generally appropriate for my needs. i have also been eyeing the cary 300sei which i know is particularly well-loved, as well as the audio research i/50. i am not married to any one variety of tube, el34s and 300bs are all great as far as i’m concerned. :)
at this price point i am also hoping for something with as much point-to-point wiring as possible, i consider some pcb usage perfectly acceptable as in the evo series but i would prefer to avoid an amp that is all fr4 inside! i am also not really looking for a hybrid amp, i would prefer all tube.
a fairly major sticking point for me here is the ability to run either triode or ultralinear. i have an extremely diverse music collection that ranges from jazz and classical to harsh noise, and it is both in lossless and vinyl format. i feel like this would be a significant advantage for me and based on my research it seems as though the people with this capability do appreciate having it, but i’m not really sure if it’s really as important as i feel it is.
thank you in advance!
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thank you all very much for the recommendations, i am extremely grateful! i have done some thinking though and it really does seem like the best way to ensure i am truly getting what’s best for me would be to budget for a speaker and headphone amp separately, that way i am not limiting myself too much in one direction. :) |
@paradisecom my thoughts exactly! I really enjoy my SLI80, good price point too from Cary Direct. Built like a tank. The Rogue is a great choice as well. |
I highly recommend Cayin Tube Amps, sound and build, and I like 6sn7 and 6sl7 This CS88A is like my A88T, except it has the advantage of using either KT88’s or EL34’s (rear switch), and it has external bias adjustment and a bias meter (mine are internal adjusters). https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650280636-cayin-cs-88a-tube-integrated-amplifier/
it’s in USA, but verify the voltage here’s mine Mine has the advantage of 4,8, and 16 ohm taps for my Vintage speaker’s 16 ohm drivers this is why I decided to try my Cayin A88T, sure glad I did https://6moons.com/audioreviews/cayin/a88t.html 1st thing I did was take the bottom off and look within, I remain impressed.
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- 32 posts total