2. amps-preamps
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Amp recommendations

Looking for some advice. My 25 year old amp has given up the ghost and I haven’t kept up with what’s good out there. Instead of sinking money in my existing amp, I’m thinking of replacing it. The amp that went bad is a Cary Audio CAD 300B (none of the tubes are working, one of the rectifiers flashes when turned on, I checked the tube fuses). The preamp is a Cary Audio SLP-70 (I recently had it checked out and retubed it). The speakers are Chapman T-7. I also have a Creek CD-60 and Project 1.2 turntable. Music Meter inter connects. My budget is around $4000 for a new amp. Is this a reasonable budget? What amp recommendations do you have? I’d prefer to stay with vacuum tube but if there are solid state amps that you’d recommend, please do so. I can provide specs on the components if needed. Thanks for your advice.
z32kerber
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,236 posts
 
@z32kerber,
Well given that story it does seem quite possibly that the Portland repair tech was overwhelmed with work and not as thorough as he might have been. I do get the sense that there’s a straightforward solution to getting your amplifier fixed. Your stated plan to address this is on the mark.

You’ve had the Cary-Chapman pairing for 23 years of listening enjoyment. During this period did you ever feel as though you were lacking amplifier power or was that concern generated by some of the replies on this thread?

As a number of people here have written there are definitely good options available given your budget range. It could prove to be informative to hear other  amplifier topologies. I believe that your Cary 300b is formidable and not easily surpassed on sonic quality. As you certainly know the 300b can sure reproduce music in a very organic manner.
Charles
testrun
218 posts
 
I would start by calling Cary Audio.  I think you will find they know their products very well and will be more than happy to work with you.  You might also try reaching out to Dennis Had directly.  He is no longer associated with Cary Audio but started the company, was the designer of your amp and I believe will be more that willing to render an opinion on best way forward.  
z32kerber OP
143 posts
 
@charles1dad One thing that’s always impressed me about the 300B amp is how "powerful" it seemed to me. I rarely had to turn the volume up much to get the volume I needed.

bobheinatz
706 posts
 
z32kerber,

I have a simular situation as you.  I have a speaker that 89db sensitive and I have driven them with a 2a3 tube p/p 15 watt mono blocks.  I have been extremely happy with the organic sound and powerful sound I am getting from this setup.  If you like DHT's try to find out whats wrong with your amp.  Every time I think about a new more powerful amp I just come to the conclusion that 15 watts of DHT just sound magnificent. 
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,236 posts
 
@z32kerber,
For me what has stood out most over time is the realism/tone of all instruments and human voice. An asset for any music genre of course but ’really’ hits home for jazz in my case. This was a step upward from my el 34 and a 6550/KT 88 based amplifiers. It’s different for everyone as to what works best

. @bobbyheinatz I hear ya, it’s so individual in nature.
Charles
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