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Cary Audio SLP 90 Clone Pre Amplifier Got this Cary pre amp clone from Ali Express Burned it in over 200 hours with pink noise and a lot of the sharpness has eased, now sounding natural and smooth! Sounds best with an EQ in the chain because the bass needs a little boost to my ears. It has 4 RCA inputs. Its a great pre and pairs nicely with the DartZeel d5Pro i'm also selling, I bought them together. In fantastic condition, hasn't been used much beyond break in, I simply just have too much HiFi and with more coming in I need to downsize! PM any questions! Located in Newcastle 2300. Can arrange
A like-for-like tube preamp at A$550 is the kind of money that usually buys a generic entry-level line stage, not a Cary-branded unit, so this looks very strong value if it’s the real SLP-90 and healthy. I can’t verify a clean Australia-wide market spread for this exact model, but Cary’s older SLP tube preamps have tended to trade well above this level, which makes A$550 look bargain-ish rather than merely fair.
What makes it worth chasing is the usual Cary appeal: a full-bodied, refined tube presentation with enough pedigree that these preamps still get talked about as serious listening pieces. At this price, the upside is if it’s quiet, holds bias, and comes with the right tubes and remote/manual if applicable; those details matter more than cosmetics on an older valve preamp. If it’s been serviced or is genuinely in good working order, this is a very attractive buy.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Cary Audio was founded in 1989 by Dennis Had in Cary, North Carolina, emerging from humble beginnings on his dining room table where he crafted his first vacuum tube projects. Driven by a passion to restore emotional depth to home music reproduction, the company quickly gained notice with icons like the CAD-300SE single-ended triode amplifier. After Billy Wright joined in 1992 and acquired full ownership in 2009 upon Had's retirement, Cary Audio evolved into a privately held American manufacturer, operating from a 10,000-square-foot facility in Raleigh with 21 dedicated employees handcrafting high-performance gear.
The brand specializes in premium amplification, spanning vacuum tube and solid-state designs, alongside digital components such as network streamers, DACs, and headphone amplifiers. While rooted in tube heritage, Cary has expanded into home theater processors and state-of-the-art digital music centers, prioritizing top-tier components for exceptional musicality across categories. Speakers, turntables, and cables remain outside their core focus, emphasizing instead amplification and source components that deliver transformative sound.
Positioned firmly in the high-end market, Cary Audio commands respect among discerning audiophiles for its reliable, value-driven products that blend superior engineering with lasting performance. As a boutique American outlier in a global field, it appeals to buyers seeking hand-built excellence at real-world prices, backed by unwavering customer service and a legacy of innovation since its inception.
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