Cary Audio SLI-80HS Integrated Amplifier
The SLI-80HS pairs holographic triode warmth with the firmer drive of Ultra-Linear operation, delivering natural vocals, full-bodied instruments and expansive, sharply focused imaging. SoundStage Solo praised its tonal color and dynamic control, while The Sound Advocate found impressive treble air and musical flow. Hand-wired construction, tube-rolling flexibility and a headphone stage complete this versatile valve integrated.
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
93/100
Build Quality
95/100
Features Connectivity
84/100
Value for Money
85/100
Pros
Triode and Ultra-Linear modes provide genuinely distinct options: holographic tonal richness or stronger bass control, drive, and dynamics.
Natural, palpable vocals and richly detailed midrange are standout strengths.
Expansive, well-focused soundstaging and convincing image depth enhance immersive listening.
Exceptional hand-wired build quality, plus broad output-tube compatibility for tailoring the sound.
Cons
Triode mode sacrifices some headroom, bass grip, and dynamic impact compared with Ultra-Linear operation.
Bass is tuneful and solid, but not as tight or controlled as strong solid-state alternatives.
RCA-only inputs limit connectivity; no balanced inputs are provided.
The supplied remote was considered unnecessarily large by one reviewer.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 93/100
Reviews describe an unusually complete tube-amplifier presentation: open and detailed at the frequency extremes, richly communicative through the midrange, and capable of large, precisely organized soundstages. Triode and Ultra-Linear modes offer meaningful choices, with Triode favoring holographic tone and Ultra-Linear bringing firmer bass control and greater drive.
Transparency Resolution
93/100
The Sound Advocate found the response full from top to bottom, with unexpected high-frequency detail and air, plus tuneful, detailed bass. SoundStage Solo also heard airy, delicate cymbals, extended harmonic decay, and strong transient response; Ultra-Linear mode was said to add a little more detail.
Tonal Balance Musicality
94/100
SoundStage Solo calls it superbly musical and a consummate communicator, praising the sweetness and palpability it brings to voices and midrange instruments. The Sound Advocate similarly found vocals natural, instruments full-bodied without excess saturation, and Triode mode especially beguiling with singer-songwriter material.
Dynamics
91/100
Stereophile credits the solid-state rectification with excellent pace and dynamics. SoundStage Solo heard very good soft-to-loud contrasts, while Ultra-Linear mode brought a faster rhythmic drive, punchier snare, and tighter bass; Triode mode gives up some headroom and dynamic force for its more holographic character.
Soundstage Imaging
94/100
SoundStage Solo reports wide, tall, and deep stages when the recording contains that information, with sharply focused images and near life-like presence. The Sound Advocate likewise found imaging spot-on, with good separation, convincing image depth, and a stage that seemed to extend beyond the loudspeakers.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
95/100
SoundStage Solo describes the SLI-80HS as built like a tank and expects long-term reliability. The Sound Advocate notes its hand-wired construction with no circuit board visible, calling the build as good as or better than any tube amplifier the reviewer had personally encountered.
Features Connectivity
84/100
The SLI-80HS supplies three RCA line inputs, a subwoofer output, a headphone jack, speaker/headphone switching, balance control, and a remote. It also supports multiple compatible output-tube types and offers Triode and Ultra-Linear operation, though there are no balanced or digital inputs, phono stage, or network functions; one reviewer found the remote unnecessarily large.
Value for Money
85/100
At US$4,995 in the cited review, and listed in a broader $5,495-$7,700 range, this is a substantial investment for a tube integrated amplifier. The Sound Advocate gives it a wholehearted recommendation and highlights Cary's three-year parts-and-labor warranty, service, support, flexible tube compatibility, and switchable operating modes, but the supplied reviews do not directly compare it with competing amplifiers at this price.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
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Specifications
- Circuit Type
- Push-Pull Ultra-Linear Amplification Pure Class AB1
- Power Output
- 40 watts/channel – Triode 80 watts/channel – Ultra-Linear
- Tube Complement
- 2 – 6922 Input Buffer Preamp 2 – 6SN7 Pre-Driver/Phase Inverter 4 – KT88 Output Tubes (or 6550, EL34, 6CA7, KT77, KT90, KT120)
- Input Sensitivity
- .45 volts for full output
- Input Impedance
- 100,000 ohms
- Noise and Hum
- 82dB below rated output
- Frequency Response
- 19Hz to 23KHz +/- .5 dB at full power output
- Output Taps
- 8 Ohms, 4 Ohms
- Maximum Gain
- 34dB
- Power Consumption
- 166 watts – Operation 83 watts – Standby
- Inputs
- 3 Pairs Single-ended RCA
- Outputs
- 1 Pair Speaker Posts (Switch for 4 and 8 Ohm Selectable) 1 Pair RCA for Subwoofer, ¼” Headphone
- Output Polarity
- Non-Inverting (any input)
- Warn-Up Time
- Approximately 3 minutes
- Break-In Period
- 100 hours of music playing time
- Finish
- Black Powder Coated Matte Chassis with Silver or Black Aluminum Faceplate and Knobs
- Weight
- 42 lbs.
- Dimensions
- 7″ H x 17″ W x 16″ D
Manufacturer's Description — Cary Audio
About the SLI-80HS Integrated Amplifier
For over a decade, the SLI-80 has reigned supreme as the ultimate choice for discerning audiophiles seeking a vacuum tube-integrated amplifier blending power and aesthetics. Whether you crave pure Class A performance at 40 watts per channel or robust Class AB output at 80 watts per channel, the SLI-80HS envelops you in a mesmerizing soundscape of rich tones and deep bass. With endless tube rolling possibilities, tailor your listening experience to suit you.
Prepare to be captivated as the SLI-80HS effortlessly exceeds expectations, surpassing the performance of many separates. Its global bestseller status speaks volumes, a testament to its unrivaled quality. Elevate your setup with customizable wood side panels from Klipsch, a collaboration to match their Heritage Series loudspeakers perfectly, for a gorgeous aesthetic pleasing to the eye and the ear.
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- Acoustic Sounds — online and in-store — Salina, Kansas, United States (website)
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