Experience with Cary CAD 808, "Rocket 88"

@dcooney thanks for your response... I don’t think I’m going to be happy with the Raytheons. Yes, they are true NOS however maybe they do need a bit more burn-in? The 12BZ7 tube is becoming increasingly difficult to find and the options are few. I’m changing the output tubes to Genelex Red Lion EL34 or Tung Sol... can pick up a pair of NOS Tung Sol 12BZ7 so might change those two sets of tubes and see what it yields. Maybe the tube (1) 12AT7A, in the SFL-1 is failing although I’m not experiencing any of the tell-tale signs that it is. I don’t play the Sonus Fabers loud and really enjoy them. Also, playing a set of Equation "7" towers and they are fabulous with this amp. They are an efficient speaker and pretty rare - beautiful fit and finish. The Cary has plenty jam to drive these. It also has 4ohm/8ohm switching by design and can take on more challenging loads. - B

@bgross
I fully understand, and have owned multiple amps from DH, Cary, Inspire, and R models which included his design and love for the grainy sounding 12BZ7 tube. He use to call them easy-to-find TV tubes... And, of course while all of these amps I used had 4/8 ohm taps, I’m simply noting his amps do much better with speakers above 4ohms. Lots of the lower power Inspire owners enjoy 8-ohm and 16-ohm speakers with great results with these lower power tube amps by DH. I too run my own 4 ohm custom designed and built speakers now.  Ended up reluctantly selling my amps from Cary and Inspire by DH and went with another brand of Mono amps to better drive my own larger 4ohm custom speakers. If I could change them to 8ohm in the right way, I would have, but other issues to contend with. With 8ohm speakers and above, its just seems to drive the speakers more effortlessly, more "dynamics", they just "flow" better with these lower power tube amps. Speaker matching is the key to success with these amps. Best of luck. Enjoy!

I'm always rotating speakers and right now these Equation 7s are doing the job nicely. The owner drove them effortlessly with a lovely Audiomat, Aria; it's 30watts per side... they may stay with me. I also have a rare set of Reference 3a, Baccarat that will be getting listed here on Audiogon soon. They are for a larger room than my current space but wow, they are truly extraordinary. Going to look for some Spendor SP1/2e. I like the big box/thin walled "Britt Sound"... 8ohm, 88db should be a terrific match. Thanks for your insight. - B

@bgross
Keep us posted on how it goes with the Spendor Sp1/2e combo if you got that path. While I’ve never heard those, always wanted to test them too. Agree on your comments on the box/design and sound. A buddy has some Harbeth 3-ways like those Spendors you are looking at. I heard them with some nice Cary amps, similar to the Rocket88.. That spendor is a neat speaker design, nice midrange, that could be a fun match with your amp. Good luck.

ditto @decooney Spendor SP 1/2e's are on my bucket list. I bet they'd sound fantastic with a moderately powered vintage EL34 tube amp.