SLI-80

About the SLI-80

The Cary Audio Design SLI80 is a vacuum tube integrated amplifier featuring push-pull ultra-linear pure Class AB-1 operation. It delivers 40 watts per channel in triode mode and 80 watts per channel in ultralinear mode, selectable via toggle switches. The amplifier uses a tube complement of 2x 6922 input buffer preamp tubes, 2x 6SN7 pre-driver/phase inverter tubes, 4x KT88 output tubes, and 2x 5U4 rectifiers. It employs specially designed EI laminate, silicon-impregnated power and output transformers, with negative feedback derived from a separate winding on the output transformer to reduce noise and improve speaker damping. The frequency response spans 19 Hz to 23 kHz ±0.5 dB, with an input sensitivity of 0.45 V for full output and noise and hum rated at -82 dB below full output. The amplifier features gold-plated 5-way speaker posts, ceramic tube sockets with silver pins, and a textured black steel chassis with a machined black anodized aluminum front panel. It weighs 42 lbs and measures 7" H x 17" W x 16" D. The SLI80 requires about 3 minutes warm-up and 100 hours break-in for optimal performance. It has been replaced by the SLI-80 Heritage Series and is no longer in production. The design emphasizes musical transparency, detail, and natural timbre, making it a benchmark in vacuum tube integrated amplifiers.