Cary Audio SLP-98 Preamplifier with Phono Stage (SLP-98L & SLP-98P)
The Cary SLP-98P pairs creamy vocal texture with a remarkably three-dimensional soundstage, blending subtle tube warmth, low noise and convincing dynamic drive. Positive Feedback found its imaging exceptionally spacious and precise, while the built-in MM phono stage and hand-wired Class A triode design make it a compelling centerpiece for vinyl-led, high-resolution systems.
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
94/100
Build Quality
94/100
Features Connectivity
84/100
Value for Money
96/100
Pros
Broad, deep and precisely focused soundstage with abundant air and disappearing speakers.
Smooth, detailed tonal balance: creamy vocals, natural treble decay and subtle tube warmth without pronounced coloration.
Exceptionally quiet operation, with reviewers reporting minimal hum and line noise.
Built-in MM phono stage performs well with high-output moving-magnet cartridges; compact chassis and outboard supply aid placement flexibility.
Cons
The onboard phono stage is optimized for moving-magnet cartridges; moving-coil users need a step-up transformer.
Tube rolling can materially affect the phono-stage sound, and some tube choices may sound grainy, lean or overly soft.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 94/100
Reviewers describe an unusually accomplished tube presentation: close to neutral and exceptionally quiet, yet rich in tonal color and musical involvement. The SLP-98P is also praised for authoritative dynamics and a broad, precisely focused, three-dimensional stage.
Transparency Resolution
93/100
Gary Lea found the Cary “truthful and faithful” to source material and incredibly close to neutral, despite its subtle tube warmth. He also reported essentially inaudible hum and line noise, while the Audiophiliac review similarly called it very quiet and highlighted its clean, fast character.
Tonal Balance Musicality
95/100
The tube character is repeatedly praised as balanced rather than overtly colored: warm, full-bodied and lush, but also tight and clean. Reviewers highlight creamy, accurate vocals, natural cymbal decay without shrillness, and a dense, voluptuous sense of musical presence that encourages very long listening sessions.
Dynamics
93/100
The SLP-98P is said to preserve both force and flow, with one reviewer describing strong forward momentum and “get up and go.” Drums were reported as impactful, kick-drum strikes as cannon-like, and the preamp was credited with smoothing harshness without reducing urgency or dynamic energy.
Soundstage Imaging
95/100
Spatial performance receives especially emphatic praise. Reviews describe a broad, deep stage with pinpoint detail, disappearing speakers, abundant air around performers, and a layered presentation that lets the listener hear around individual instruments rather than merely across a flat stage.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
94/100
The SLP-98P earns strong craftsmanship praise for its superb fit and finish, elegant machined faceplate, and hand-wired point-to-point construction. Gary Lea calls the workmanship world class, while the separate outboard power supply also supports flexible placement and quiet operation.
Features Connectivity
84/100
The SLP-98P combines multiple line-level inputs with a built-in MM phono stage, which reviewers found convenient and capable with a Sumiko Moonstone cartridge. Its compact main chassis and separately placeable power supply are practical advantages, though the available evidence does not indicate balanced connections, remote control, or extensive modern control facilities.
Value for Money
96/100
At a reported $5,495 retail price before upgrades, reviewers consider the SLP-98P an unusually compelling high-end purchase. It is called a solid bargain and perhaps the biggest bang for the buck, with explicit claims that matching or bettering its performance could require spending two to three times as much.
Reviews & Sources
Professional reviews and sources for this product's Watt'n Potatoes analysis.
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Specifications
- Circuit Type
- Class A Triode
- Output
- Rated 2 volts, 12 volts maximum
- Gain
- 20dB – Line Stage 43 dB – Phono Stage (SLP 98P only)
- Noise and Hum
- -88 dB below full output
- Input Impedance
- 50,000 Ohms – Line 47,000 Ohms – Phono
- Output Impedance
- 440 Ohms
- Frequency Response
- 5 Hz to 163,000 Hz
- Tubes
- 4 ea – 6SN7 Line Stage 2 ea – 12AX7 Phono Stage 2 ea – 12AU7 Phono buffer
- Power Transformer(s)
- EI Laminate, 200% Duty Cycle
- Resistors
- 1% Metal Film
- Capacitors
- Polypropylene Film with hand soldered copper terminals (optional upgrades available)
- Power Supply Capacitors
- 4 ea – 560µF @ 400 VDC
- AC Cord
- 3 Conductor, Detachable
- AC Power Requirements
- 117/234 VAC @ 50/60 Hz
- Consumption
- 44 watts – Operation
- Warm-Up Time
- 3 Minutes
- Break-In Time
- 100 hours of playing time
- Finish
- Anthracite black chassis with silver or black aluminum faceplate
- Weight
- 22 lbs
- Dimensions
- 5″ H x 12.5″ W x 12″ D
Manufacturer's Description — Cary Audio
About the SLP-98 Preamplifier
For over 20 years, Cary Audio’s SLP-98 preamplifier and its predecessors have delivered unparalleled musical satisfaction. Hand-built and hand-wired in North Carolina, the SLP-98 continues to set the standard for precision audio reproduction. Utilizing matched tubes and zero feedback, it ensures the most accurate and natural musical presentation.
To maintain pristine sound quality, the SLP-98 features an external power supply, similar to its flagship counterpart, the SLP-05. This design minimizes high-voltage electrical noise, preserving the integrity of delicate musical signals.
With five inputs, the SLP-98 effortlessly handles even the most elaborate audio systems, while the included remote control adds a layer of convenience. For vinyl enthusiasts, an optional built-in phono stage for MM cartridges (SLP-98P) is available, offering exceptional performance and versatility. Prefer a line-stage model? The SLP-98L has you covered.
No matter your source—vinyl records, tapes, CDs, or today’s cutting-edge digital formats—the SLP-98 unlocks a level of performance you never thought possible.
Verified Dealers
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Authorized dealers for Cary Audio SLP-98 Preamplifier with Phono Stage (SLP-98L & SLP-98P)
- Acoustic Sounds — online and in-store — Salina, Kansas, United States (website)
- Audio Affair — online and in-store — Deritend, England, United Kingdom (website)
- Audio Aktoren — online and in-store — Horten, Vestfold, Norway (website)
- Audio Classics — in-store — New York, United States (website)
- Audio Revolutions — in-store — Khwaeng Thung Phaya Thai, Krung Thep Maha Nakhon (website)
- Audio Tempel — online and in-store — Zwolle, Overijssel, Netherlands (website)
- Audiogears — in-store — Casalecchio di Reno, Emilia-Romaña (website)
- Audiotehnika — in-store — Centra rajons, Latvia (website)
- Class D Audio USA — online — United States (website)
- deciBel Audio — in-store — Chicago, Illinois, United States (website)
and 13 more verified dealers