Cary VT-500 Tube Phono Preamplifier - Factory Serviced

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General:
The Cary VT-500 is a single-ended tube phono preamp. 

It utilizes four 6SL7 tubes and a tube‑rectified external power supply. This dual-chassis design is designed to keep the potentially noisy power supply separate from the preamplifier signal paths.

The RIAA equalization is performed passively using RC circuits and features a large and easily accessible knob at the rear to change the MC input loading. In testing we found this preamp musical and very enjoyable to listen to.

The unit will come with its manual, umbilical power cord, IEC power cord,, and box. As a plus this particular unit was just serviced at Cary to ensure long-term reliability. 

From Cary:
Elevate your vinyl experience with the VT-500—a vacuum tube stereo phono preamplifier designed for serious audiophiles.

With four (4) 6SL7 dual triode tubes at its core, the VT-500 delivers unparalleled sound quality that will transform your vinyl listening sessions. Its passive RC circuit ensures precise RIAA equalization, while a fully regulated power supply housed in a separate heavy-duty chassis guarantees whisper-quiet operation.

Equipped with two high-quality step-up transformers, the VT-500 offers ample gain for use with any MC cartridge, boasting a remarkably low noise floor. With inputs and selectable loading to accommodate nearly any moving magnet or moving coil phono cartridge, you can optimize the response to match your setup perfectly.

Immerse yourself in the magical blend of art and technology that is the VT-500, and discover subtle shadings and dynamic contrasts you never knew existed in your vinyl collection. If you’re serious about your turntable and vinyl music, make the VT-500 an essential part of your audio system.

SkyFi Cosmetic Notes:
Some light marks, Very good condition overall.

SkyFi Technical Notes:
This unit just came back from a factory service at Cary and was given a clean bill of health.

Connections:
RCA, IEC Power

General Sound:
Neutral sound with little to no coloration

Cosmetic Condition:
8/10 = Very Good. Excellent front faceplate, one minor flaw on chassis side or top. See our detailed rating description here.

Working Condition:
Working perfectly and tested in our lab and listening room.

Included:
Unit, manual, and power cord.

Packing:
Original Manufacturers Packing

Reviews:
Click Here

Original MSRP:
$5,495.00

Specs:
Circuit Type- Direct Coupled Single-ended Class A
Frequency Response RIAA Curve + 0.5 dB, passive RIAA circuit design
Gain MM – 38 dB, using triode vacuum tubes MC – 65 dB, using input transformers and triode vacuum tubes
Noise and Hum-78 dB below full output
Input Impedance MM – 47kΩ MC – Selectable 50Ω, 100Ω, 200Ω, 500Ω, 1000Ω
Output Impedance660Ω
Power Supply Design Fully Regulated Power Supply with 1 ea. – R-Core transformer
Output Polarity Non-Inverting
Vacuum Tube Complement- 2 ea – 6SL7 Head Amp
2 ea – 6SL7 RIAA EQ & Amp Gain Stage
1 ea – 5AR4 Vacuum Tube Rectifier (located in external power supply chassis)
AC Power Requirements100V-120V @ 50/60 Hz or 200V-240V @ 50/60 Hz
Power Consumption 15 watts
Warm-Up Time- 5 Minutes
Break-In Time- 100 hours of music playing time
Finish Fine textured black powder coat aluminum chassis, Black or Silver anodized aluminum faceplate

Dimensions:
5″ H x 17.25″ W x 13″ D

Weight:
22 lbs.

Link to Manual:
Click Here

Recommended Cables:
Kimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - Better

Kimber Kable - RCA Interconnects - Best

Kimber Kable - Phono Interconnects

Kimber Kable - Power Cords - Better

Kimber Kable - Power Cords - Best

Testing Process:
We start with a visual inspection of all internal components to make sure that there are no signs of heat stress or damage. Capacitors are checked for telltale signs of predictive failure including bulging, shrunken wrappers, or physical leakage. We also inspect the PCBs for discoloration from resistors or transistors that may have been running hot. On vintage units we often spot check select capacitors for value and ESR.

When we first power on a preamplifier we connect its RCA output to a Sencore PA81 Power Analyzer which simulates real world loading conditions and gives us an oscilloscope interface.

The first order of business is checking that the volume control works smoothly throughout its entire range with acceptable channel balance. This is accomplished by feeding a 1 KHz sine wave into one of the preamp’s line level inputs while monitoring the preamp’s output on an oscilloscope.

We then switch to a 1 KHz square wave to test the tone controls, loudness function, and filters where applicable. During this step we are watching for equal alteration of the test signal by both channels. This also helps us identify dirty controls that will need treatment.

Once the basic line stage functions are verified, we test each input individually. This is especially important for devices that use relays to select their sources. If the preamp is equipped with a phono stage we test that as well. We use an inverse RIAA filter which allows us to feed a reference test signal into the phono input with the proper RIAA equalization and level. A square wave or sine sweep is used to verify that the device’s phono stage is faithfully reproducing the RIAA curve. If the preamp under test has balanced inputs and/or outputs these are tested as well.

We finish up our bench testing with a listening test with our bench amplifier and reference speakers. During this test we check for hum or hiss that may not have shown up in earlier testing. We also check that all of the tone controls and filters perform as expected.

If the preamplifier has remote control functions these are also tested. Preamps with tube circuits or complicated power supply topologies are connected at our long term test rig for extended stress testing under real world conditions.