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In Reply to: Has anyone tried other umbilical cables for their Cary SLP-98? posted by budburma on March 21, 2007 at 12:22:44:
... sell it, and buy something better, just I did.
Follow Ups:
Absolutely, I lived with an SLP-98P for awhile and found that it was bested by my friend's Foreplay.
One of the worst experiences I've had in the "high end" world.
Another opinion of an unregistered audio idiot. I bet your social skills parallel your post.
Just my experience and opinion. Don't really need your kind of post here.
...while trying to improve its performance, I believe I learnt a lot about it.Basically it is a wrong design. It's a cathode follower, that is almost always a kind of sonic compromise unless a designer is genious. Being a CF design, 98L tried to act as a low output impedance preamp but this was not backed by an appropriate circuit to support it (like some of the CJ or BAT amps have - low impedance tubes in paralel) so what you have is actually a case of fake low impedance preamp with no REAL drive for anything except maybe for Cary power amps, if the owners are to believe.
What I can really imagine it works good with Cary power amps due to synergy/voicing/whatever reasons. I really made a big effort to like it, spent $$$$$$$$ on tubes, exchanged everything around them - except that I didn't want to go Cary power amps route, thank you. Nothing on this world can change my opinion that 98L sounds great apart from a closed, Cary system.
you can only say stuff like that about Bryston gear!... don't you know nothin'?
No Guru, No Method, No Teacher
.
Oz,
Have you actually heard the SLP-98 or SLP-98 F1 in a familiar system? Can you describe what it is about it that you don't like? I have heard the standard SLP-98 (at the cary factory) and I own the F1. For me, the F1 is much more engaging than the the highly regarded (and deservedly so) Aesthetix Calypso. We each like what we like. You have great speakers. I auditioned them in Richmond, VA a couple years ago. They were very clear and dynamic. I used to own the VR4 Gen II speakers. Good stuff.
Thanks
_____________________
"If it sounds good, it is good."
I actually owned the V-12P, which was a hot rodded version of the SLP-98 that Dennis came up with about the time the V-12 amp hit the streets. It's input stage had been tricked out with the circuitry of the amp, but it was still an SLP-98, only supposedly better at the time. It was a little too much on the lush side of reality for me, not nearly transparent enough. And the phono stage was just short of sucking big time. I sold it to my buddy who has since replaced it with a TVC and is much happier.
Sold my beloved SLP98P and bought the SLP-05. Best damn preamp I've ever heard--and the 98 was no slouch.
How much did you have to spend to get "something better"? Is there a preamp out there better then the SLP-98? Sure, but better is a relative thing. At the price point the SLP-98 sells for it is hard to find something significantly better.
"How much did you have to spend to get "something better"? Is there a preamp out there better then the SLP-98? Sure, but better is a relative thing. At the price point the SLP-98 sells for it is hard to find something significantly better."I totally disagree with this one. I owned the SLP-98 for over a year, in conjunction with the V12r amplifier. One of the least resolving pre-amps that I have ever heard, with not enough at the low end (even when connected to heftier tube and SS amps). This was a very boring pre-amp that I really wanted to like.
Spend less than half and get a used Van Alstine T-7ecs. Much quieter, better resolution and detail, much more involving, large number of inputs (unbalanced, however), a decent phono section and one of the best little headphone amps that I've heard. Balance controls, filters, that can be switched out. Its a no-brainer for this price range.
And I naively thought the only way to make 98 a decent sounding preamp was to couple it with a Cary power amp!Though it really looks fantastic. Maybe Cary should consider making an ambient lamp out of such a beautiful chasis and tubes. I would buy a few for sure!
....are:tube:
EAR 864 (for neutrality, LF & HF extension, soundstaging, detail...)
a version of Euridice (DIY tube preamp, makes 98L sounds like a joke)
TVC:
Promitheus
A home made DIY TVCSS:
Pass Labs X2.5
Electrocompaniet EC4.7 Mk2
This is what I tried while living with Cary 98L - which is btw a beautifully looking preamp (I kept it just for looks for so long) but seriously sonically flawed (midrange colorations, a strong roll-off in both frequency extremes).The only way to use it for a critical listening is in a extremely tube friendly surrounding that would make its shortcomings less audible.
You never said how much you had to spend to get better performance. Look, bottom line is that there are better preamps out there sure but synergistically a Cary pre will always sound better with a Cary amp than anyone elses preamp. By the way, the SLP-98 has been bettered by the SLP-05 so there sure are better preamps out these.
Yeah, there are better preamps that are cheaper. Myself and gordon gave you several that are less $$, some are a lot less. The only problem with any passive device is that it won't work with most Cary amps, since they have very low voltage gain. However, I have heard my TVC sound great with a pair of AES sixpaces, so there are no absolutes here.
If your system is up to the task, a TVC will eat the Cary's lunch. It won't even be close. For that matter, I prefer the Modulus 3A to the Cary if you just have to have a tube preamp.
How much are they?
They?
The '98 is a lion in my system, surrounded by much more expensive stuff...and with Avantgarde Duo Omegas (ruthlessly revealing of noisy or subpar electronucs). I defy anyone to find a better tube linestage than the F1 Cary, at or near the price.
"Your liver suffers dearly now for youthful magic moments...so rock on completely with some brand new components"
Yes ...... this whole line of questioning reminds me of Warren Zevon song...... "That's why I'm looking for the next best thing.... I appreciate the best though I'm settling for less, cause I'M
LOOKING FOR THE NEXT BEST THING"~!"The pursuit you see and never the arrest"
Tom Waits
"The Sound of One Hand Clapping is Crashing by Design" HKM
What a stupid post. He like the unit and you do not have his ears nor does he have yours.
Maybe I can broker the deal. :)
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