Rocket (88) Man!

CDLehner

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Even though I'm trying to be a good 'phile...and save my pennies for a Pass .8; old habits die hard.

I've always been curious to try this piece; and I gave in to temptation. These days...glass has a stranglehold on me; it was either that, or the Cat's Eyes. :)

 
Looks very cool Chris. I have a feeling you'll love it. Congratulations!
 
Thanks Joe. Even though I'm a little disappointed...that I couldn't stick to my "plan"; I am getting excited about the piece.

I think it'll be tons-o-fun; a real roller's party. I should keep KT busy ;)
 
i mentioned to you in another thread i was demoing some cary gear awhile back the rocket came in for a week and then a cad120s after that, both were excellent amps and alot of fun.
i was also borrowing a slp98 and they were awesome together, you will be surprised how that little baby sings!!! i also owned a v12 around 12-15 years ago and loved that too.
cary rules!!!!!!
 
i mentioned to you in another thread i was demoing some cary gear awhile back the rocket came in for a week and then a cad120s after that, both were excellent amps and alot of fun.
i was also borrowing a slp98 and they were awesome together, you will be surprised how that little baby sings!!! i also owned a v12 around 12-15 years ago and loved that too.
cary rules!!!!!!

Steve...great minds, must think alike. I've already started peeking, at SLP98s ;)
 
Thanks Joe. Even though I'm a little disappointed...that I couldn't stick to my "plan"; I am getting excited about the piece.

I think it'll be tons-o-fun; a real roller's party. I should keep KT busy ;)

Plan? First rule of Audiophiledom is that there is no plan. Resistance is futile!

Enjoy the new amp and don't forget the pics!



Sent from my mobile.
 
Steve...great minds, must think alike. I've already started peeking, at SLP98s ;)

The SLP98 is a great sounding line stage. I had one in my system for awhile and enjoyed it. I wouldn't say it's neutral, but I would say it's fun to listen to. If I were in the market for one, I would buy the line stage version and not the version with the phono stage. The phono section doesn't have a reputation for great sound and the extra tubes are drawing voltage and current from the same power supply that powers the line stage.
 
I suspect you're right Doug. Question is...blessing, or curse?
hahaha!! its a curse, im so happy with my system right now and for its moderate price of all the gear i could be happy with it for a long time. so what did i do? sold my amps and bought a new integrated.lmao!!!! i just cant seem to stop until ive had it all in my system.at least now i narrowed my preferred sound down to 300b's , but there are still alot out there i havent tried yet.lol.
now im engrossed in finding the right speaker again.
its definitely a curse.:audiophile:
 
The SLP98 is a great sounding line stage. I had one in my system for awhile and enjoyed it. I wouldn't say it's neutral, but I would say it's fun to listen to. If I were in the market for one, I would buy the line stage version and not the version with the phono stage. The phono section doesn't have a reputation for great sound and the extra tubes are drawing voltage and current from the same power supply that powers the line stage.
good call on that, the one i had borrowed had the phonostage in it, at that time i had a bat w internal phono and a fosgate signature(ok sounding but not great) and the cary was my least favorite of the 3.
 
The SLP98 is a great sounding line stage. I had one in my system for awhile and enjoyed it. I wouldn't say it's neutral, but I would say it's fun to listen to. If I were in the market for one, I would buy the line stage version and not the version with the phono stage. The phono section doesn't have a reputation for great sound and the extra tubes are drawing voltage and current from the same power supply that powers the line stage.

I had the chromed out version back in 2000- awesome to look at. And yes, its a bit warm of neutral but pleasingly so.

sold all my Cary gear for BAT which worked better with Wilson.
 
I had the chromed out version back in 2000- awesome to look at. And yes, its a bit warm of neutral but pleasingly so.

sold all my Cary gear for BAT which worked better with Wilson.
ha keith im beginning to see me and you had alot of the same gear over the years. great minds think alike!!! lol.
 
So...lest the group, keep going on and on about how great the 808/Rocket 88 is; for the first time ever, a seller has (passionately) asked to be let out of a sale. :(

It's not a huge deal; his circumstances changed, he had seller's remorse...and what a-hole, would take away a piece of loved kit from its owner. I don't think, it would have been long for my system anyway; but his plea, does make me wonder...just what I missed out on.
 
ha keith im beginning to see me and you had alot of the same gear over the years. great minds think alike!!! lol.

Haha. Yeah, I miss my BAT gear at times. Did you ever hear the 55SE? I might have to try that amp some day- my 75SE was excellent, but enormous and of course, ran hot with the 6c33. Victor was using push/pull, no negative feedback design before many, I give him credit. And BAT is just so incredibly well made.
 
Haha. Yeah, I miss my BAT gear at times. Did you ever hear the 55SE? I might have to try that amp some day- my 75SE was excellent, but enormous and of course, ran hot with the 6c33. Victor was using push/pull, no negative feedback design before many, I give him credit. And BAT is just so incredibly well made.
yes i heard the stereo and the mono versions of the 55se both were great but 1 is enough , 2 was overkill. its really an underrated amp. huge dynamics and air. i thought of the magico s3 as a great partner for it, for some reason. had a 75 but not the se and a couple 60's and the vk-55 se was the best bat amp ive heard to date, i never heard the rex.
 
So...lest the group, keep going on and on about how great the 808/Rocket 88 is; for the first time ever, a seller has (passionately) asked to be let out of a sale. :(

It's not a huge deal; his circumstances changed, he had seller's remorse...and what a-hole, would take away a piece of loved kit from its owner. I don't think, it would have been long for my system anyway; but his plea, does make me wonder...just what I missed out on.
oh no!!! sorry to hear that, im rambling on about other amps in your thread and you are sad today :sigh: that sucks its better than being at the other end though and someone promising to buy your gear and not paying for it. im sure you will recover and move on and find something else. is the 120s out of your price range? its a great amp and can be had used for a great price and are widely available.
or just buy the decware SET lol.
 
oh no!!! sorry to hear that, im rambling on about other amps in your thread and you are sad today :sigh: that sucks its better than being at the other end though and someone promising to buy your gear and not paying for it. im sure you will recover and move on and find something else. is the 120s out of your price range? its a great amp and can be had used for a great price and are widely available.
or just buy the decware SET lol.

Not sure what's next Steve. The 88 was just one of those things; right piece...right time. Right price! ;)

A Decware, is definitely in my future; but now's not the right time. I'm enjoying these little Dyns...and they need some big-boy juice, lol.
 
Very pleased with my Rocket 88. Interesting that my 87db efficient speakers never sounded as good as I thought they should have. Tried Bryston, Mark Levinson & Accuphase power from 90wpc to 250wpc and nothing made them sing. However, as I was very pleased with my SLI-80, when a Rocket 88 showed up close by I decided to give it a try. What a difference. Running triode it has totally changed my speakers to what they should have been from the start. Took a year in the wilderness of solid-state, but, 'back in the fold' of tubes for good, this time. I set the bias at 160mA for EL34s & KT77s, 165mA for 7819a and the full load 200mA for KT88 & 6550 output tubes. My Rocket 88 has the later 12BZ7 rather than the 6922 tubes, and Hexfreds in the power supply. Replaced the factory supplied Kimber coupling caps with Audyn True Copper Max. Am running mine with an SLP-98P and K&K SUT. A very happy camper.

How do I delete a pic? I would like to delete the 2nd pic but do not see how. Thx.

Cary2.JPG
 

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