Cary Audio SLI-80HS integrated amplifier measurements, Stereophile

[Robin L]

Hope this is kosher, this is John Atkinson's measurements for Cary Audio SLI-80HS integrated amplifier.

I suspect there might be commentary on this here thread.

https://www.stereophile.com/content/cary-audio-sli-80hs-integrated-amplifier-measurements

 

[ZeDestructor]

Hope this is kosher, this is John Atkinson's measurements for Cary Audio SLI-80HS integrated amplifier.

I suspect there might be commentary on this here thread.

Cary Audio SLI-80HS integrated amplifier

Your link is bad. You should fix it

 

[Robin L]

Your link is bad. You should fix it

Fixed. Thanks.

 

[RayDunzl]

From page 1:

"Cary Audio's follow-up to the SLI-80 Signature integrated alters its forebear with a cosmetic makeover, solid-state rectification, and numerous internal upgrades. "The primary change with the SLI-80HS was to move from vacuum tube rectification to solid-state rectification," Cary Audio President Billy Wright told me in an email. "Solid-state rectification adds excellent pace and dynamics to the music.."

To my knowledge, everything in my audio chain has solid state rectification.

Sources -> Switch -> EQ -> DSP -> DAC -> Preamp -> Amps -> Speakers (SS rectified bias voltage)

That's at least 8 additions of pace and dynamics.

Have I accidentally overdosed myself on pace and dynamics and not realized I have an issue?

 

[Robin L]

From page 1:

"Cary Audio's follow-up to the SLI-80 Signature integrated alters its forebear with a cosmetic makeover, solid-state rectification, and numerous internal upgrades. "The primary change with the SLI-80HS was to move from vacuum tube rectification to solid-state rectification," Cary Audio President Billy Wright told me in an email. "Solid-state rectification adds excellent pace and dynamics to the music.."

To my knowledge, everything in my audio chain has solid state rectification.

Sources -> Switch -> EQ -> DSP -> DAC -> Preamp -> Amps -> Speakers (SS rectified bias voltage)

That's at least 8 additions of pace and dynamics.

Have I accidentally overdosed myself on pace and dynamics and not realized I have an issue?

You might find yourself enjoying the sort of treble that Michael Fremer doesn't like. That might turn out to be a problem.

 

[ahofer]

Good lord. That amp is busted.

 

[Robin L]

Good lord. That amp is busted.

" . . . though the Cary SLI-80HS's measured performance is what I would expect from a tubed design that uses a push-pull pair of KT88 output tubes and a limited degree of overall negative feedback, I remain bothered by the differences in noise and low-frequency linearity between the channels . . . . . . whichever mode the user prefers, the SLI-80HS's 4 ohm output taps will work better than the 8 ohm taps with all but high-impedance loudspeakers"

 

[GrimSurfer]

Good lord. That amp is busted.

It's something... the word I thought of when I read the measurement data is unprintable.

 

[Soniclife]

Have I accidentally overdosed myself on pace and dynamics and not realized I have an issue?

When you take to much you become immune and need to keep upping the dose to get the lovely hit. You need some more gear.