Cary Audio SLP 05 Owner's Manual

SLP 05
Pure Balanced Vacuum Tube Preamplifier
Owner’s Manual
CONTENTS _________________________________________________________
Welcome................................................................................................................................3
Introduction......................................................................................................................4-5
Specifications ...................................................................................................................6-7
Features........................................................................................................................... 7-12
Installation ..........................................................................................................................12
Operation ............................................................................................................................13
Service and Care ...............................................................................................................14
Warranty.......................................................................................................................15-16
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WELCOME__________________________________________________________
Dear Music Lover,
I would like to personally thank you for your decision to invest in the new Cary Audio Design SLP 05 preamplifier. The SLP 05 is a continuance and elevation of the SLP series of preamplifiers originating in 1990. The SLP series has been in continuous production for over 15 years and provides musical enjoyment across the world.
In sound quality alone, the SLP 05 transcends all previous Cary Audio Design preamplifiers and elevates both digital and analog sources to their full musical potential. The SLP 05 is a fully balanced, full-featured preamplifier that includes a vacuum tube headphone stage along with vacuum tube power supply. The SLP 05 is the preamp of choice for exceptional sound that rivals live performance.
Thank you for your support and interest in Cary Audio Design.
Dennis J. Had President
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INTRODUCTION____________________________________________________
Congratulations!
You have just purchased one of the best preamplifiers made. The following is an overview of the design characteristics of the SLP 05.
The SLP 05 employs a fully balanced circuit topology, from input-to-output, that actively cancels external electrical and radio frequency noise picked up by audio cables. The sonic result is a greatly improved signal-to-noise level ratio with palpable, three-dimensional images of instruments and vocalists in a natural acoustic space. Balanced operation also ensures more than adequate output voltage to drive any balanced amplifier throughout the entire audio range with the all-too-rare combination of vibrancy, immediacy and control. An added feature of the new SLP 05 permits “balanced to single-ended” and “single-ended to balanced” audio connections for the greatest flexibility of use in your system.
Listeners today have more choices of playback sources than ever before, and the SLP 05 offers complete flexibility to accommodate them. In addition to three RCA unbalanced line level inputs, there are two balanced XLR stereo inputs along with a dedicated tape input as well. Included is a pair of cinema processor inputs for either RCA single-ended or XLR balanced connections. Outputs include both RCA single-ended and Balanced XLR connections. The XLR balanced in and out connections follow the “Cannon plugs” pin out wiring standard. Pin #1 is the shield, pin #2 is the normal-phase (hot lead) and pin #3 is the inverted signal.
The special Cinema Bypass feature routes the balanced or unbalanced cinema inputs directly to their corresponding outputs, bypassing all the SLP 05 circuitry and turning over control to the user’s cinema processor. The cinema bypass circuitry may be engaged by toggling the Cinema bypass switch on the front panel of the preamplifier. If the SLP 05 power switch is turned to the off position, the SLP 05 automatically defaults to the cinema bypass mode.
All switches in the SLP 05 are gold-contact types to ensure signal purity and high resistance to wear and oxidation over years of use. Single-throw toggle switches and solid-seating rotary switches along the machined aluminum front panel are easy to use and provide unambiguous indication even in low light. All source inputs and the audio mute function are switched through hermetically sealed, gold plated contact relays. Listening level (volume) is controlled with a high-precision Alps potentiometer that is mechanically driven by command from the infrared remote control. A front-panel mute/operate switch offers additional convenience when switching cables or changing a record. Remote muting is also possible by switching the SLP 05 remote handset button to the mute position. The remote handset now takes over the control of this feature.
Reflecting the growing popularity of high performance headphones, the SLP 05 features a state of the art headphone amplifier stage based on the popular 6SN7 vacuum tube. This is a “zero feedback” circuit design and is transformer-coupled, guaranteeing extended, uniform frequency response regardless of the headphone driver type. Sufficient drive current is available to power headphones with impedance’s from 30 to 300 ohms. A front panel toggle switch allows use of the onboard headphone amplifier.
Circuitry
The SLP 05 is a no compromise line stage and headphone amp. The power supply is vacuum tube rectified and has a 5AR4 vacuum tube rectifier lying on its side inside the unit. The 5AR4 tube has a separate
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cathode from the filament so any position of mounting is proper. It was horizontally mounted to keep the power supply the same height as the preamplifier. The rectifier tube provides the high-voltage (B+) plate voltage. Two separate filter chokes and a fully regulated shunt coupling capacitor ensure stable and ripple-free voltage resulting in a very low noise and spacious sound stage.
The preamplifier has eight (8) 6SN7 dual triodes octal socket vacuum tubes. Four (4) of the 6SN7's act as the true balanced main line section. Two (2) of the 6SN7's are operating in the front end ahead of the gain stage as balanced plus/minus 180 degree input buffer stage. The remaining two (2) 6SN7's function as a ‘Class A’ push-pull zero feedback headphone amplifier. This headphone section amplifier has two on board output transformers to transform the high impedance of the 6SN7's to low impedance for driving the headphones.
There are two power switches to control the AC input voltage to the preamplifier. The large knob on the power supply is the mains power switch. If one places the power supply in another location, the main power switch is turned on. A blue LED in the knob indicates the power supply can be activated by the preamplifier section. Turning the preamplifier power switch sends 12 volts DC to the power supply relay to turn on the main power transformer that powers the tube rectification along with all other voltages required to place the SLP 05 in operation. The two meters on the front of the power supply indicate the B+ plate voltage (210 VDC) along with the plate current (60 ma.). You will always know at a glance if all is OK with the operating conditions.
The SLP 05 is engineered and built to provide a lifetime of musical enjoyment with facilities and features that ensure future compatibility and audiophile performance for many years to come. This preamplifier is a future collector’s item and deserves to be installed with the finest ancillary equipment available, such as the CD 306 SACD player or the CAD 211 Anniversary Edition power amplifiers.
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SPECIFICATIONS ___________________________________________________
This section describes the basic specifications of the SLP 05 vacuum tube preamplifier at the time of printing. Specifications are subject to change without notice or obligation. When the following cautionary terms are used in this manual, these definitions apply:
WARNING
Electrical hazard! Misuse or failure to follow instructions properly may result in personal injury or death!
CAUTION
No risk or personal injury; however, misuse or failure to follow instructions may result in damage to equipment.
NOTE
No risk of personal injury or equipment damage; however, misuse or failure to follow instructions may prevent proper performance of the equipment.
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CIRCUIT DESIGN Class A Triode Vacuum Tube Preamplifier Design
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OUTPUT VOLTAGE 2 Volts rated, 12 Volts maximum
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OVERALL GAIN 10 dB Single-ended RCA 8 db Balanced Operation
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RATED DISTORTION 0.03 % THD
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NOISE AND HUM -90 dB below full output
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INPUT IMPEDANCE 50,000 Ohms - RCA 100,000 Ohms - XLR
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OUTPUT IMPEDANCE 400 Ohms
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FREQUENCY RESPONSE 5 Hz to 250,000 Hz
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VACUUM TUBES 8 ea - 6SN7 octal tubes for the balanced, headphone and gain stages 1 ea – 5AR4 Rectifier Tube in Power Supply
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POWER TRANSFORMER(S) R CORE 200% Duty Cycle
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RESISTORS 1% Metal Film
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CAPACITORS Polystyrene, Film and Foil
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POWER SUPPLY CAPACITORS 2 ea - 560µF @ 400 VDC
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