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In Reply to: RE: recommendation posted by rws on November 08, 2014 at 16:41:55
"But is the bass not as tight and controlled with tubes or is just my pre-conceived idea?"As a generalization, there is some truth to it, but I think it can vary from one tube amp to another. It's a question of degrees. There might be a degree of bass control loss, but is it worth it to gain the other, positive qualities of a tube amp? I think it is, but that's just me.
Which used Cary integrated are you thinking of? I also have an SLI-80 Signature. It's a great-sounding amp, but if you ever need service from Cary, they're expensive. And, Cary does not make a schematic available.
I should also mention that my SLI-80 has had major QC/reliability problems. One of the items on my list of things to do is to reverse engineer a schematic for it so I can work on it without being dependent upon Cary.
Edits: 11/08/14 11/09/14Follow Ups:
I was thinking more of the 300SEI, has Cary gotten any better with QC? That is a concern
Edits: 11/09/14
I can tell you that I have had three pieces of Cary gear purchased brand new and have had QC/reliability issues with all of them at one time or another, multiple times with the SLI-80. The problems occurred either within or shortly after the warranty period. I heard (and have good reason to believe) a similar Cary QC problem report from someone else in my area.I put up with it because in the Cary products, Dennis Had designed superb-sounding gear, at least according to my taste. Too bad Dennis isn't there anymore. But, I mainly put up with the QC issues because I have some technical background and I'm a DIYer, so I can likely fix any problems myself going forward. Obtaining warranty support from Cary has been difficult. I'd never consider them for a customer satisfaction award.
In any case, I would think that a properly functioning 300SEI would sound really nice with your Klipsch speakers. I suggest considering two things: 1) the cost of replacement tubes - you might want to look up the cost of a pair of 300B tubes, 2) how you'll handle any service needs that might come up, again, to the best of my knowledge, Cary service can be expensive.
The SCA-35 is likely a much more practical choice.
Edits: 11/09/14 11/09/14 11/09/14
I am strongly considering the sca-35. I assume I would use the 6GH8A as the 7199 are hard to find? I would find one and have it rebuilt or buy a rebuilt, since I don't have proper test equip. How is the bass in the sca-35?
Part of the intrigue with the Cary and some others was the SET.
Thanks
If you decide to buy an original SCA-35, please be aware that the original output transformers have 8 and 16 ohm taps. The Dynakitparts reissue transformers have 4 and 8 ohm taps.
Regards,
Peter
Dennis Had, founder and former president of Cary Audio, now sells some single-ended amps on ebay. Might be worth looking at. His ebay ID is radioman731.
I can speak to the bass performance of my Stereo 35, as it has been a long time since I've heard an SCA-35, though the SCA-35 power amp section is almost the same as the Stereo 35.Like the SCA35, the Stereo 35 is an EL84 amp, sounds sweet and even has some "snap" that I do not often read is associated with vintage tube amp designs. I find the bass to be not as deep as with other amps. However, it can also be sonically interpreted as the bass being tighter and more controlled than might be expected from a vintage tube amplifier design.
Remember, though, that you’re probably not going to get the powerfully deep bass and dynamic yet controlled overall sound that you’d get from a solid state amp. Generally, you’d be trading those things (along with solid state sterility) away for tube lushness, sweetness, palpable tone and in-the-room presence, all in a reasonably dynamic presentation.
Though I find the bass performance of my Stereo 35 a little short but still satisfactory, I understand the EFB improves the bass response further.
Edits: 11/09/14 11/09/14 11/09/14 11/09/14
I use my EL84 with a subwoofer and Zaph Audio SR-71 speakers. Simply perfect and I have NOOO problems with bass. I'm using a Mike Samra restored Sherwood S-5000. Perhaps one of the best pieces of small-ish audio ever made.
charles
That's a really nice amp. I remember hearing one some years ago. Talk about palpable, it was even tactile.
Yeah, kinda ruined me for wanting more gear. I actually have a stereo fund that I don't want/or need anything to spend it on.I have actually hit the end of the audio road. I'm beyond happy with the Sherwood. I am impressed every time I turn that little thing on. And I've had A LOTTTT of gear!!!!
I was actually thinking of getting a ST-70 kit. Just for fun obviously. And I keep coming back to - why?
Edits: 11/10/14
For the SCA-35/ST-35 check this site out. Also check out diytube. Triode Electronics sells kits with the diytube PCB that you can add a volume control to and the EFB mod.
Triode's reproduction Z-565 and Magnequest's copy of the original are said to be among the best out there besides the original.
The ST-35 version gets past the negatives of tone controls in the circuit and uses in production tubes.
If you want a copy of the original chassis and tube layout Dynakit Parts sells everything you need.
Anyway the EFB mod takes these units to another level as members on diytube and Audiokarma have all positives on it.
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