Cary Audio SLP-05 question..

Reagan

I'm using the Mullard GZ34 rectifier. I've never done a comparison with any other.

Reagan

For those considering the aftermarket Ultimate Upgrade...as stated previously, I was very disappointed with the quality of the workmanship performed by Cary Audio. I had to re-solder one of the caps that came loose. Another thing that I had done was to have the meter lights replaced. Now, after only 7 months, one of the meter lights is flickering. This is frustrating!

pitdogg2

😕

Toolfan66

No complaints over here yet, and I have the Ultimate Upgrade, I took the cover off the Power supply to swap out the Rectifier tube, and all looked great, maybe this weekend I will pull the top off the Pre..

Toolfan66

Ok, I couldn’t wait, I had to open up the SLP 05 and take some pics after Reagan’s post.

I think it looks pretty sweet under the hood.

Reagan

Agreed...looks good! I expect that in my case it was a one-off anomaly. As you can see in my snapshot, the caps seemed a little less neat. You can see the spot on the PCB where the cap fell off.

Clipdat

Assembled on a Monday versus a Friday?

Toolfan66

Reagan wrote: »

Agreed...looks good! I expect that in my case it was a one-off anomaly. As you can see in my snapshot, the caps seemed a little less neat. You can see the spot on the PCB where the cap fell off.

That would sour me enough that I would send these pics to them, for what it cost, they should make it right IMO!!!

Did you request the Kimber Kable Wire upgrade as well?? because it doesn't look like you have it from your photo..

I also believe mine was a stock unit that was built from the ground up with the upgrades, that is no excuse for yours by any means..

Reagan

Yeah, I sent them pictures. They agreed to let me do the re-soldering and granted that it wouldn't void the warranty. Now for the failed meter light that was installed by Cary 7 months ago, they agreed to fix it for the cost of a new lamp and bench time plus shipping...all costs to be paid for by me. When I expressed disappointment, they agreed to send me the new lamp and asked that I install it myself. I did not get the Kimber upgrade. Right now, my goal is to get the requested upgrades/fixes addressed.

Toolfan66

Reagan wrote: »

Yeah, I sent them pictures. They agreed to let me do the re-soldering and granted that it wouldn't void the warranty. Now for the failed meter light that was installed by Cary 7 months ago, they agreed to fix it for the cost of a new lamp and bench time plus shipping...all costs to be paid for by me. When I expressed disappointment, they agreed to send me the new lamp and asked that I install it myself. I did not get the Kimber upgrade. Right now, my goal is to get the requested upgrades/fixes addressed.

For a preamp that gets such great accolades, this is a huge disappointment to see, the correct response should have been here is a shipping label, get it back to us, and let us make it right.. That alone would have been huge in the audio community, and for anyone wanting, or looking at one, whether it be a new one or a used one that is stock, and wanting to send it in for an upgrade..

I would bet my paycheck Mod Wrights response would have been a lot different, but then again I doubt it would have made it to you looking like that..

I love this preamp, but this story is very concerning..

audioluvr

Looks like cold solder to me.

F1nut

audioluvr wrote: »

Looks like cold solder to me.

That's horrible.

Reagan

I would consider either doing the mods yourself or having someone proficient do it instead of Cary Audio.

Toolfan66

I’m going to have to pull my unit back out..

dromunds

Wahahaha. You may want to rephrase that. 😈

GlennDog

[quote="Reagan;c-2669923" Another thing that I had done was to have the meter lights replaced. Now, after only 7 months, one of the meter lights is flickering. This is frustrating! [/quote]

I'm the 3rd owner of my 11 yr old 05. When I took delivery there was an issue with one of the meter lamps. There's a service procedure in the owners manual that I received, but after disassembly, the instructions did not apply.
After going back n forth with Cary CS, we figured it out. It wasn't just a lamp/bulb, but the entire assembly

Not a big deal. I ditched the JJ recti for an 1960s Mullard and rolled some nice NOS tubes . . . she's sing'n sweet to this day!

BUT . . . I've never popped the top on the pre (just the PS) . . . Now I wonder what's going on in there!

Reagan

Wow! Interesting! Well, if it's not the lamp, I'll be disconnecting both lamps. Thanks for the input.

Toolfan66

I have been on a serious Dire Straits diet the last couple weeks, they sound soooo damn good..




Cary is magic, Cary gives the best head…

stangman67

Toolfan66 wrote: »

Reagan wrote: »

Yeah, I sent them pictures. They agreed to let me do the re-soldering and granted that it wouldn't void the warranty. Now for the failed meter light that was installed by Cary 7 months ago, they agreed to fix it for the cost of a new lamp and bench time plus shipping...all costs to be paid for by me. When I expressed disappointment, they agreed to send me the new lamp and asked that I install it myself. I did not get the Kimber upgrade. Right now, my goal is to get the requested upgrades/fixes addressed.

For a preamp that gets such great accolades, this is a huge disappointment to see, the correct response should have been here is a shipping label, get it back to us, and let us make it right.. That alone would have been huge in the audio community, and for anyone wanting, or looking at one, whether it be a new one or a used one that is stock, and wanting to send it in for an upgrade..

I would bet my paycheck Mod Wrights response would have been a lot different, but then again I doubt it would have made it to you looking like that..

I love this preamp, but this story is very concerning..

You are dang right about the modwright part. Their customer service is just outstanding, they’ve got a customer for life in me. At this point I have about 20k of MW equipment, scary to think about lol

Toolfan66

stangman67 wrote: »

Toolfan66 wrote: »

Reagan wrote: »

Yeah, I sent them pictures. They agreed to let me do the re-soldering and granted that it wouldn't void the warranty. Now for the failed meter light that was installed by Cary 7 months ago, they agreed to fix it for the cost of a new lamp and bench time plus shipping...all costs to be paid for by me. When I expressed disappointment, they agreed to send me the new lamp and asked that I install it myself. I did not get the Kimber upgrade. Right now, my goal is to get the requested upgrades/fixes addressed.

For a preamp that gets such great accolades, this is a huge disappointment to see, the correct response should have been here is a shipping label, get it back to us, and let us make it right.. That alone would have been huge in the audio community, and for anyone wanting, or looking at one, whether it be a new one or a used one that is stock, and wanting to send it in for an upgrade..

I would bet my paycheck Mod Wrights response would have been a lot different, but then again I doubt it would have made it to you looking like that..

I love this preamp, but this story is very concerning..

You are dang right about the modwright part. Their customer service is just outstanding, they’ve got a customer for life in me. At this point I have about 20k of MW equipment, scary to think about lol

The only Mod Wright piece I have is my OPPO 205, I am thinking about a phono pre from them down the line..

Reagan

Followup - meter lamp issues. Cary Audio sent the replacement lamp which was easily soldered in place. That corrected the issue. I bench tested the faulty lamp. I suppose there was no way for Cary to have tested this as it failed after 7 months. I don't mean to keep belly-aching but I had a little glitch with my volume control. Even when turned all the way down, the volume was blasting through my speakers. I turned the amp off and waited for a bit. It's working fine now. I have two questions. Has anyone ever experienced a failure of the SLP-05 attenuator? Also, are there any attenuator upgrades for the SLP-05? Maybe Khozmo?

F1nut

Even when turned all the way down, the volume was blasting through my speakers. I turned the amp off and waited for a bit. It's working fine now. I have two questions. Has anyone ever experienced a failure of the SLP-05 attenuator?

Did the volume knob move on its own to full blast?

Reagan

I manually turned the volume knob all the way down and it was still blasting like it was turned up. Can't figure this one out unless the attenuator is starting to fail. I'm not exactly sure how old my unit is but I'm sure it's one of the early ones (S/N 260527).

F1nut

Yeah, I got that you turned it down. My question is did the volume knob move by itself to full blast before you turned it down?

Reagan

No. I turned it down manually, put a record on the platter, lowered the tonearm and it blasted away. Vol knob still turned all the way down. No movement. I even turned down both left and right channel gain knobs with no affect. Shut everything down and went away sulking. When I came back later, it worked fine. I’m hornswoggled.

F1nut

Ok, I seriously doubt it has anything to do with the Alps pot itself.

I wanted to know if the volume knob increased on its own as that would indicate some sort of IR interference. That does not seem to be the case.

That pretty much leaves a chip malfunction.

Reagan

Yeah...after thinking about it over night, the fact that the channel balance gains were also turned down indicates some sort of short in the system or maybe a chip malfunction. I didn't realize there were any chips. I thought it was all PCB circuitry and tubes.

F1nut

A quick look shows some chips. The first pic also shows the Alps pot/motor.