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US$2,799 is fair to slightly strong for a clean SLP-98, but it is not a steal. New Cary pricing puts the line-stage SLP-98L around US$2,997 on sale and the phono-stage SLP-98P around US$3,297 on sale, while used examples show up roughly in the US$1,900–US$2,600 zone depending on version and condition.
What makes it worth a look is the Cary tube presentation: spacious, vivid, and easy to live with, with enough refinement that these units have stayed desirable long after launch. A complete, well-kept unit with remote, original box, and fresh tubes is the kind of listing that can justify paying near the top of the used band; if it’s missing accessories or has unknown tube life, I’d want more room on price.
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.
See all Cary Audio listings on RADAR.
