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With condition listed as unknown, USD 1,799 is a fair-to-good ask rather than an automatic bargain. The SLP-2002 originally sold for about USD 3,000, and surviving owner reports put good used examples around USD 1,950, so this price has genuine appeal if the unit is fully functional and complete.
It is a serious, fully balanced Class A tube preamp with 6922/5814 circuitry, regulated supplies, both RCA and XLR connectivity, cinema bypass, a motorized remote volume control, and a useful headphone output. Its presentation is generally praised for body, detail, dynamics, and bandwidth without becoming syrupy. Before buying, confirm the remote, headphone section, balanced outputs, and tube condition; replacing four small-signal tubes can quickly affect the real cost. A clean, tested example at USD 1,799 would be a worthwhile 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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