[Demarche]

A couple of months ago I got back into HiFi. My system had sat quiet for some time. I'd use it but no serious listening was taking place. So I sold a couple of pieces to get some funding to start playing around and updating my system. The most significant thing I’ve done so far has been to replace the pre-amp. I purchased a used Cary SLP-88 before the holidays and I’ve been very happy with it. It has a pair of EH tubes and I haven’t done any tube rolling yet, but that is in the plan. The rest of the system is a CAL CL-15, a Classe CA-100 amp, and a pair of Hales Concept 2s. I mainly listen to rock & some jazz. The next step I’m considering is replacing the amp. I have a couple in mind, and hope that the folks here can give me some feedback & ideas.

I’ve budgeted $1K for this and there are a lot of used amps that can fall into this range. I guess there really are 2 questions here; the 1st is at this budget range is it really worth replacing my CA-100. I don’t have any issues with it, but I don’t have any issues with the pre-amp until I replaced it and heard the difference. The 2nd is replacing it with what? Some of the ones I’m considering are the Cary Rocket 88, since it’s a match for the pre-amp, but I don’t know if there would be any issue driving the Hales. A recommendation I’ve already received is the Anthem Amp2 SE, but I don’t know much about this amp.

Also, any tube recommendations for the pre-amp would also be welcome.

[doug s.]

hi demarche,

as i am a tube guy, i'd say, sure - replace your amp - it's solid state.     but, because i once owned an slp98, i would recommend replacing the preamp first.  while i would definitely stick w/tubes, i think you can get a lot better detail & more open soundstage than what's offered by cary gear.  and, i think the preamp is more important than the amp (tho others here will disagree w/me.)  while i am partial to melos preamps, as these are no longer in production, & hard to find in good shape, you may wanna check out modwright preamps.  these are excellent, & excellent deals used...  also, sas preamps have a great reputation, but i need remote wolume control, so they're not for me...  i am sure there's others that may chime in w/their opinions, both re: amps and preamps...

welcome to the a/c!   

doug s.

[Demarche]

Doug,
I am with you on the importance of the quality of the pre-amp . It was the 1st item I upgraded, and while I'm sure there are better preamps out there the Cary unit is doing fine for the time being. I'm sure I'll upgrade it again. For now I'm focused on the amp and if there is something I should be doing about it, given that it's 10 years old now. Thanks for the feedback and I will keep in mind your recommendations when I decide to revisit my preamp decision.

[Kim S.]

I can't help you with your amp choice, but I can give you some thoughts  about tube rolling.  I replaced the new EH and JJTesla 12au7 and 12ax7 tubes on my ASL preamp and it made a huge difference. I replaced them with nos RCA cleartops for the Au7's and nos RTW for the ax7.  The RT is a french brand.  There is a good list of Tube Vendors listed in Audio Central.  I've used several with no problems.  Brent Jesse at audiotubes.com is very good.  My cleartops are actually ones branded for other companies and were very reasonable.  I also have hybrid, tube/solidstate, poweramps Monarchy SE-250's.  I replaced the stock 12Au7's with Amperex bugle boys.  The improvement on already great sound was impressive.  I'm sure the Amperex tubes would be a great choice for a preamp as well.  I'm sold on nos tubes over new production at least for these "small tubes".

[Demarche]

Kim,
Thanks for the info on tube rolling, especially the vendor info!

[doug s.]

well, if it were me, the 1st $1k i'd spend on your system would be on a new preamp.  (assuming you like your hales'; i understand they're great speakers, but i have never heard them.)  but, alas, it's not me!     so, in that case, if the hales' are ~88db-efficient or above, i would strongly recommend the amp that's still f/s here; i am amazed someone hasn't picked this one up yet:

http://www.audiocircle.com/index.php?topic=48857.0

doug s.

Doug,
I am with you on the importance of the quality of the pre-amp . It was the 1st item I upgraded, and while I'm sure there are better preamps out there the Cary unit is doing fine for the time being. I'm sure I'll upgrade it again. For now I'm focused on the amp and if there is something I should be doing about it, given that it's 10 years old now. Thanks for the feedback and I will keep in mind your recommendations when I decide to revisit my preamp decision.

[Demarche]

Doug,
I've read some good things about the Golden Tube SE amps. I guess were some reliability issues in the past, but once they've been modified people love them. I'm not sure what the efficiency is of the Hales (I think in the 90s). I've learned that the Hales are not a "tube friendly" speaker. I looked into the Manley Stingray for a short time and talking to the folks at Manley they did not think that the Hales would be a good match. Something about the Hales having a very flat impedance curve (?), sorry still learning about some of these things.

[doug s.]

amps love speakers w/flat impedance curves, it's curves all over the map that amps (especially tube amps) don't like.  and, a lot of (but not all) tube amps do not like speakers w/impedence that's low.  having searched the web for specs on your speakers & coming up empty, i really don't know the story here, but it sounds like manley might?  (btw, i owned a pair of manley mahi's - wery nice amps; i only sold them because i finally found another mesa baron, which is a one-size-fits-all amp that i will likely keep for a long time.)

if it's true that you're confining your search to solid state amps, then all the more reason to replace your preamp instead, imo - your amp is awreddy wery nice, as far as solid-state goes, imo.  i only say this because the cary slp98l i owned - one step above your preamp - was so soundly thrashed when i upgraded.  and, at the time i was using solid state amps...  when i switched to tube amps, there was another improvement, but far less than when i got a really good preamp in my rig...

doug s.

Doug,
I've read some good things about the Golden Tube SE amps. I guess were some reliability issues in the past, but once they've been modified people love them. I'm not sure what the efficiency is of the Hales (I think in the 90s). I've learned that the Hales are not a "tube friendly" speaker. I looked into the Manley Stingray for a short time and talking to the folks at Manley they did not think that the Hales would be a good match. Something about the Hales having a very flat impedance curve (?), sorry still learning about some of these things.

[Demarche]

Doug,
You're killing me ..now I need to learn about, melos, sas, & mesa baron. I know there is no info on the web regarding the Hales, which is a bit disappointing. Maybe I'm being a little hasty in replacing my amp and need to rethink my approach. You've definitely given me a lot to thing about and I appreciate that, thanks.

[Charles Calkins]

In replacing audio gear I've found the best upgrade is the amp. I'm not a fan of tube amps. I do have a tube preamp. Solid state amps seem to drive the speakers better and thus make things sound better to me. I've borrowed several tube amps from a bud and they just don't seem to cut it.

                                               Cheers
                                              Charlie

[doug s.]

i would also check out modwright preamps - wery nice, imo.  and, they offer remote, which, personally, i wouldn't do without.     dodd audio pre's (and amps) also have an excellent reputation, tho i have not heard them, myself.  they also offer remote control.

doug s.

Doug,
You're killing me ..now I need to learn about, melos, sas, & mesa baron. I know there is no info on the web regarding the Hales, which is a bit disappointing. Maybe I'm being a little hasty in replacing my amp and need to rethink my approach. You've definitely given me a lot to thing about and I appreciate that, thanks.