SLP-05 Vacuum Tube Preamplifier
Cary Audio’s finest preamplifier has been the recipient of many awards and glowing reviews. It consists of one enclosure housing the preamplifier itself and a second separate power supply to keep noise out of the musical signal path and provide a more stable electrical foundation. Like most Cary Audio products, it is fully differential-balanced in construction to further reduce electronic noise and uses no global feedback for faster response. The SLP-05 features three pairs of RCA inputs plus a tape loop and two pairs of XLR balanced inputs. It includes a Cinema Bypass mode so you can share sources between the music system and a home theater processor without worrying about degrading the signal path or having to readjust the volume.
A set of hand-matched tubes is provided with your SLP-05 and a matched pair that simply powers a built-in headphone amplifier. All of this technology simply means that you will be listening to music that is lifelike in its richness and clarity and full of the tiny details that raise the SLP-05 from simply good to world-class. Cary Audio’s attention to detail in circuit design, parts quality, and a superb finish makes this truly an investment in musical enjoyment and pride of ownership.
The Ultimate Upgrade is now available for the SLP-05 and consists of changes to the power supply and the line stage circuit. Click here to learn more.
Products purchased with an upgrade(s) are not eligible for return or credit, and sales are final. A 30-day audition does not apply.
Retail $9,995.00
Factory Direct $7,496.00
Sale $5,997.00
The following section describes the SLP-05 basic specifications. The specifications are subject to change without notice or obligation.
Circuit Type | Class A Triode Vacuum Tube Preamplifier Design |
Output Voltage | 2 volts rated, 12 Volts maximum |
Overall Gain | 17 dB – Single-ended RCA 24 dB – Balanced Operation |
Rated Distortion | 0.03 % THD |
Noise and Hum | -90 dB below full output |
Input Impedance | 50,000 Ohms – RCA 100,000 Ohms – XLR |
Output Impedance | 400 Ohms |
Frequency Response | 5 Hz to 250,000 Hz |
Vacuum Tubes | 8 ea – 6SN7 octal tubes for the balanced, headphone and gain stages 1 ea – 5AR4 Rectifier Tube in Power Supply |
Power Transformer(s) | R CORE 200% Duty Cycle |
Resistors | 1% Metal Film |
Capacitors | Polystyrene, Film and Foil |
Power Supply Capacitors | 2 ea – 560µF @ 400 VDC |
AC Cord | 3 Conductor, Detachable |
AC Power Requirements | 117 or 234 Volts AC @ 50 or 60 Hz |
Consumption | 75 watts – Operation 25 watts – Standby |
Warm-Up Time | 3 Minutes |
Break-In Time | 100 hours of playing time |
Finish | Anthracite black chassis with silver or black aluminum faceplate |
Features | Remote volume control and muting One Cinema Bypass (XLR balanced or RCA) One tape monitor loop Two XLR balanced stereo inputs Three RCA stereo inputs One XLR balanced and two RCA pairs of preamplifier outputs |
Weight | 16 lbs – preamplifier 19 lbs – external power supply |
Dimensions | 6.25″ H x 17″ W x 12″ D – preamplifier 4.5″ H x 17″ W x 12″ D – power supply |
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Wayne Garcia on The Absolute Sound
Jim Swantko on Home Theater Review
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