Best tube integrated--Cary SLI-80, or?

The magic of the SLI-80 was lost on me. I spent a few days with one and felt the CJ CAV-50 was much better at $2500.00 and the Quicksilver seperates at $2095.00, bettered it too.No question NOS tubes would have made a big difference. I did like it's looks, nothing better then turning the lights off and watch those tubes glow. Thinking back it was probably the 6550s that didn't do it for me. Has anyone tried some Tungsol 6550s or Genelex KT88s?

Longplate, I put in a pair of Svetlana KT88's soon after I got mine, and they are quite a bit beter than the 6550c's. That, combined with some good NOS 6SN7's, and 7308's made my amp sooooo nice sounding compared to the stock tubes. Those power tubes you mentioned are a little too much $ for me, and I've found the 7308's give the biggest improvement over all, although of course I've never heard those classic power tubes, I'd love to some time...

Longplate: I don't think you gave the SLI much of a chance with the stock Sovtek garbage. We've all been playing with NOS goodies and exchanging our impressions.

I think I would be safe in saying that we all agree the Siemens 7308's are KILLER. Maybe the best 6922/6DJ8 for this amp. On the 6SN7's we're a little split. While I prefer the early 50's RCA 6SN7GT others prefer the Raytheon's. We all like the Svetlana KT88's.

Granted, this is an additional $500+ worth of tubes, but it makes all the difference in the world. And you can never have enough NOS tubes lying around. :-)

Marchman,have you heard the Rogue.You dont state you have.I heard the Cary for 10 + hours on 7/8 seperate occasons.Had the dealer allowed me a home demo i probably would of bought it.In the end things worked out for the better because i got a chance to Audition the Rogue and went back to listen to the Cary one last time.No contest.
So for you to state they are not in the same league leads me to belive you have not heard the Rogue.Cause if you had you would not make that statement.They are in the same league.Both very well built and both great sounding.
I prefered the Rogue.

This will seem like heresey but IMHO the mesa Tigris PROPERLY TUBED competes very well with both CARY models (including the SLI50). Two mdoels I would like to hear but have not are the Tempest and the Audiomat Arpege.
I went through several amps for my second system which consits of Proac1sc/tjoeb 4000 modified/ silval oval and kimber select cables. The tigris is the QUIETEST tube amp I have ever owned. Retubed it with Mazda silver plates, Visseaux 6V6's , and JJ el84. Running in 2/3 triode mode with no negative feedback the sound is top drawer with amazing dynamics for 28watts (must be the 6V6 coming through). The fact that this amp can be had for around $1100 to $1200 (plus $400 for mentioned NOS), is a dedicated headphone amp like the CARY, and has two line level outputs one of which is variable makes it a ridiculous steal. If you can get over the lack of prestige in owning an amp built from the professional side of the audio world and trust what you hear you can be a happy camper and save some money.