Amp/Preamp Asylum

Listen first

76.172.194.64

In Reply to: RE: CAT SL1 Signature mkI worth to upgrade? posted by T NUC on May 11, 2008 at 08:09:05

T NUC,

The CAT SL-1 remains in my favourite three or four phono preamps ever, the Audio Research SP10, and more recently the Hovland phono being a couple of others. I use a 1987 SP10, and the contemporay SL-1 just does everything extremely well- a very spatial, tranparent preamp.

When getting new equipment, I think it's best to spend some time listening critically before developing intentions for changes. There needs to be a reference period to know the sound well enough to be able to judge the efffcts of changes. To know if changes will improve the sound, you have to decide first what's not satisfying about the sound, bcome aware of what technical changes might steer the sound your way, but all along be able to remember where you started.

Plus, new gear requires a settling in. I've learned that I sometimes think a new widget makes an improvement, but it's actually just the novelty of it- it sounds different and that has a freshening effect. Many people have modified old McIntosh and became sorry that what they wished for was granted. Plus, in some cases I know I'm trying to convince myself the effort isn't wasted. The, "It cost $1,100 just for the shipping- it must be better! " effect should be eliminated from judgement.

Listen for awhile and develop a list of the good and bad qualities- I'm guessing there won't be much in the "bad" list with an SL-1. In the meantime, collect comments and read contemporay reviews when the various versions changed- those will be describing what modifying might do for your SL-1. Here is a "Stereophile" article describing the evolution to the Ultimate:

http://www.stereophile.com/tubepreamps/705/index17.html

- notice the phrase, "leaves us scrambling to find new superlatives when he comes out with the next latest-and-greatest version".

Yoy might also like to visit "Tubes Asylum" and look into the huge realm of the NOS tube, getting a feel for the best sounding tubes o the types the SL-1 uses. But there dozens of choices and others' comments will narrow it down. You might have impressive improvements in the SL-1 from merely changing 4 tubes .

My prediction is you'll enjoy listening to music so much, you won't want to part with it for weeks while the work is done.

What are the other pieces in the system?

Cheers,

Bambi B

Follow Ups:

Post a Followup:

FAQ

Post a Message!

Forgot Password?

Moniker (Username):
Password (Optional):
	Remember my Moniker & Password (What's this?) Eat Me
E-Mail (Optional):
Subject:

Message:	(Posts are subject to Content Rules)

Optional Link URL:
Optional Link Title:
Optional Image URL:
Upload Image:
E-mail Replies:	Automagically notify you when someone responds.

To view your new posting or follow-up, click on the RELOAD or REFRESH button on your browser.