The SLP-05 Ultimate Upgrade


I saw that Cary is offering an upgrade package for the SLP-05.  I love this pre.  Stock as a rock, but with 6sn7w and RCA greyglass vt231.  Has anyone heard an upgraded SLP05 or might anyone have an opinion on the likely sonic result from the upgrades?

Thanks!

From Cary's site:

We have had numerous requests from customers for many years regarding possible upgrades to the SLP-05 preamplifier. For the past couple of years, we have made it a project to find the appropriate combination of components to take the SLP-05 to another level. Finally, we believe we have achieved our goal. We are incredibly happy with the results of these upgrades which can be installed in any SLP-05, no matter the vintage. The “Ultimate Upgrade” consists of changes to the power supply as well as the line stage circuit.

The power supply portion of the upgrade consists of “maxing out” the filtering capabilities along the entire power supply chain, all the way into and including the preamplifier. Purifying DC voltages is extremely important to providing a clean, clear, smooth sound quality that is free from grain, noise and strident artifacts. This also improves imaging qualities as it provides a much blacker background. The type and quantity of capacitance are important as we are not just adding an extra 1200uf of UCC electrolytic capacitance into the main B+ (high voltage) supply but also an additional total of 125uf of Polypropylene capacitors throughout the B+ line. This includes a huge 100uf Polypropylene capacitor right at the line stage PC board. The rest of the additional capacitors are used as bypass capacitors across each UCC electrolytic filter capacitor. This provides a dramatically smooth, sweet sound quality.
In the line stage circuit, we change the resistors to high quality 1% Vishay metal film plate load and cathode resistors. This parts change improves the midrange and bass substantially for a fuller, more textured midrange. You will notice more body and texture to vocals and acoustic instruments, etc. Bass is more authoritative and tight. Highs are smoother yet detailed.
And finally, for the pièce de résistance. We are removing all of the coupling capacitors and installing (10) Mundorf MCap coupling capacitors throughout the entire line section. This is the final addition that completely allows the sound qualities of the SLP-05 to shine through, resulting in a sweet, fluid, full bodied yet delicate delivery of every single instrument and natural vocal detail. It is done without adding brightness, and yet delivers an amazing amount of air and detail revealing the acoustics of the room and instruments with breathtaking natural realism. There is body, texture and fullness to instruments that break through with such ease and delicacy no matter the complexity of the music.
The “Ultimate Upgrade” is not just an upgrade. It elevates the SLP-05 to a whole other level of sound quality. It retains the attributes of the SLP-05 that you know and love but gives you more of everything.
The complete upgrade is priced at $1,595 which includes all parts, labor, and FREE shipping back to you. If you purchase a new SLP-05, you will be able to add this upgrade during the checkout process on carydirect.com


stfoth
thanks, hogweed75, i called CARY  and talked to DARYL, MY SALES REP.  he talked to their tech and he  had said the same thing with the wire, but nothing about opening the bottom of the unit but did say to turn the knob slowly back an fourth to see if it will free it self
Just wanted to chime in if anyone had some doubts about this upgrade. Well worth it, the folks at CaryAudio were great. 
I agree with all the positive comments about this upgrade. I also had an outstanding customer service experience with Cary throughout the entire process. I had the upgrade done just before Christmas. They received the preamp from me on a Friday and the following Friday I had the preamp back and installed in my system.

Roughly 8-10 hours into the burn-in I began to notice some very obvious positives. The basic “house sound”, if you will, had not changed at all but I was noticing details in recordings that I hadn’t before: the attack of a ride cymbal, a vocal standing out in greater relief, the clarity of inviduals voices within a choir. This probably all goes to the improvements in power filtering. I have to tell you I expected the improvements to be subtle, if there were any (I entered into this with some very healthy scepticism) but in the end the improvements were more than subtle. I could hear into the music more DEEPLY than I anticipated. 

For me it ended up being one of those system changes we all make where you are so jazzed by the results you end up going through your library and pulling out all of your old favorite recordings with the thought, “Let’s see how THIS sounds...”

I’m now at about 100 hours in to the upgrade and my only regret is that I didn’t do it sooner. If you own an SLP-05 and are on the fence my advice is only to say get off the fence and pull that trigger.

For others who suggested tube upgrades first, I agree. Find some nice NOS tubes and get those in. I’m running some NOS Sylvanias and RCAs and a Mullard rectifer in the power supply.  The Mullard rectifier was a jaw-dropper over the original Sovtek.

In short, this was a very worthwhile upgrade for me. Don’t wait!