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Cary in bed with Stereophile?????

Lets get some comments on the true impartiality of hi fi mags in general, and the reality of high end audio. I recently auditioned the Cary integrated 300SEI, 12 W/channel. I have a Naim CD5 and Audio Physic Virgos. Certainly there was the tube "bloom", with some of the immediacy and palpability. But the bass tightness and articulation was not there. (My "reference" amp, an old 1970's Pioneer 50W/channel receiver, was clearly better in this respect) I comandeered my wife, who I would describe as a casual listener, to compare the Cary and the Pioneer. After playing two of her favorite songs on both amps, she said "this is a trick , you didnt change anything in the system". When I pressed her, and played another song, she said she could not hear any difference. The Pioneer is worth $50, the Cary $5000. Cary is rated highly by Stereophile, but they have two page ads spread all over the place ......
mythtrip
gcarbone
4 posts
 
Abecollins is right. "System synergy" if you will, is vital to any great sounding system. That being said, and even if reviewers are not going to be overly critical of equipment they are writing about, I highly doubt that anyone at Stereophile (or any other reputable magazine for that matter) would risk their reputation by stating that an amplifier is "the most involving and communicative amplifier I've heard" if it wasn't very competent gear. What it may come down to is a matter of taste. It can't be said enough, that audio equipment is like cooking, you need to find out what you like. You may not like Cajun, but love Italian, hence you may not like the "Cary sound," but do like what you get from your gear. As a final thought, look at the reviews on Audioreview.com--they are split, with little middle ground. At any rate, best of luck finding your favorite "flavor".

Happy listening,

Gcarbone
chazzbo
1,007 posts
 
Matching is key as well as your taste.Though tube pre's/amps vary in type of sound and quality/value so is the case for solid state.But truisms can generally be established .SS gear gives more clear,less rolled off highs and tighter bass whereas the upperharmonic distortion we like present in tubes makes the mids more harmonically rich.But you may like one or the other more.Plus you speakers may work well with one or the other.Lastly just becauseyou like tubes more like I do does not mean that their isn't crappy tube gear being built.Lot's of factors based on taste and compatability.
bobaloo1
42 posts
 
Cary does'nt need to get in bed with anybody as their reputation speaks for itself. Sphile on the other hand is like any other magazine-willing to go to bed with any body, any time, any where-just don't call them whores as it tend to ruffle their feathers.
jfrech's avatar
jfrech
1,816 posts
 
I owned the Virgo's for 3 years. I'll 2nd Abe Collins...likely a mismatch. I've driven the Virgo's with a small Classe 100W SS amp, a Bat 100W SS amp and a BAT VK60-60W tube amp. All w/ great success. The 4 ohm load w/ low power maybe was just to much...also the Virgo's have some midbass warmth...so that might have been to much of a good thing....

With your setup...those speakers can be very revealing and will show you everything upstream...I bet neither the Cary or the Pioneer have given you a glimpse at how good the Virgo's can be! Try something else...
alex
11 posts
 
Oh YES!! For there are a lot of 'High End' equipment designers / manufacturing people who can tell you that alot of the reviewers want the equipment 'donated' to the cause, another words ship us a sample and maybe we will review and if you don't want it back then the review is 'flavored' in to your liking. I will not mention names but some of the better lines never make the pages for they won't 'donate' and advertize as well. It is a hand in hand operation. Wakeup.
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