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Experience with Cary CAD 808, "Rocket 88"

So, I'm building a new (older gear) kit around a Sonic Frontiers SFL-1 line-stage and a soon to be rebuilt to spec Cary "Rocket 88" 20-30 watt tuber. Pretty excited by the pairing but don't currently have many speaker options that will perform at optimum with these two components. I have some JM Reynaud, Twins MkII that should be great but also know my Focal, Profile 908 and Linn, Keilidh are not a fit as they're both a bit power hungry. Can anyone report on what they've played with this amp successfully? If you had this combo of pre/power in your kit I'd be interested in knowing how you felt they meshed together. Have a smaller music specific room with standard 8' ceilings and 36'Lx22'W dimensions. Room is well furnished but has great acoustics. Any thoughts are greatly appreciated. - B
128x128bgross
bgross's avatar
bgross OP
314 posts
 
Turns out it's actually a CAD 808 R and is a 30/60 watt newer piece. Have had ProAc Tablet EBs and liked them. Thinking on a set of Audio Physic Step SLE,... I primarily listen late night in a super quiet environment. I bet the Response 2 would be very nice. How about some Spendor SP 1/2? 8ohm load, pretty easy to drive and respond well to tube amps. Must be others that have had this "Rocket 88R". By the way, using the Sonic Frontiers SFL-1 with a pair of borrowed TAD Hibachi mono blocks with the Linns & it's a pretty amazing little setup
bgross's avatar
bgross OP
314 posts
 
No one have/had a Cary Rocket 88R? Curious what others have had success with,...
bgross's avatar
bgross OP
314 posts
 
So I've run through various speakers with this kit,... now using Sonus Faber Concertino Domus and a set of borrowed Equation 7s; both are fabulous albeit with very different presentations. Question: I recently replaced a set of Electro Harmonix 12BZ7 with a set (2) of NOS Raytheons when one of the EH failed. I find the Raytheons to be thin and a bit brittle compared to the EHs. I'd like to hear what members found to be the most successful tube setup for this amp. I'm running a full set (4) of Genelec Red Lions "88s" in the output section, the Raytheon 12BZ7 (2) in the driver/phase inverter stage and a set JJs (2) in the EL84 slots. Wondering what people have used and got the best results from. TY! 
decooney
1,906 posts
 
While the "R" model is 10w more in Triode mode than the standard model, it appears your SF CD speakers are 88db/1w sensitivity (4ohms).  You might not be getting replies as the std model is less rare than the higher power R model.  Also, many have changed coupling caps in the Rocket 88 with some degree of success. 

As for tubes, the Raytheon 12BZ7s are decent, not overly warm, and I’m wondering about two things for you.

1) Are they truly NOS tubes, like never broken in, need more time to settle in? Give them 30 days.
2) Do you have access to (8ohm) speakers above 90db sensitivity to try?
rodman99999
6,033 posts
 
It's been over twenty years; but- I owned a Rocket 88 and tried to get enough SPL to satisfy, with my Maggie MG12/QRs, actively bi-amped (w/Dahlquist DQ-LP1), at 200Hz, in a relatively small room.          I'm a realistic SPL listener; so- it wasn't the amps' fault, that it couldn't fully sate my cravings.    HOWEVER; I enjoyed the presentation enough; I bought two Cary SLM-100s, which I've since owned, modded and loved, MUCH.      I tried them with a pair of 1.7i Maggies and realized; I was destined to either go SS, or- ditch the planars.       If I'd had the 95dB/2.83V, open-baffle, speakers I now own, then: the Rocket would probably been a keeper.    Don't know if that helped any, but- I've been celebrating, so........  HAPPY LISTENING!
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