2. amps-preamps
  3. 170308-138596

Cary Audio SA 200.2 SE power amp (latest version)

Hey there,

I need some advise and opinions on something. My current setup includes : Monitor Audio Gold 200 5g (latest generation), Classe Sigma Amp2 class D power amp, Classe Sigma preamp, Cary Audio CD 306 SACD player.
My speaker cables & XLR balanced analog interconnects are Cardas Clear Reflection. Power cables : Shunyata Delta NR, Transparent Reference PowerLink MM1, Audioquest Blizzard, Shunyata Venom V10 NR (20 Amp / C19) from wall to my Shunyata Venom PS8 AC power line distributor. AC power line distributor: Shunyata Venom PS8 with Venom Defender.

I’m about to pull a trigger on the new Cary Audio SA 200.2 SE power amp (latest version) to replace my existing Classe Sigma Amp2 class D amp. The Cary is a class AB amp. Which amp do you think will be a better choice for my system? Have anyone compared these two amps before and what are your thoughts? My Monitor Audio Gold 200 5g speakers (latest generation) are very laid back warm smooth refined sounding speakers. The highs and mids are very smooth. These new MA Gold 200 5g are complete opposite sound profile than the previous MA Gold 4g series, which are very forward and somewhat bright. And I’m using warm sounding speaker cables and analog XLR interconnects throughout.
Your advise, inputs and thoughts will be much appreciated. Thanks in advance.

dilatante
dilatante OP
76 posts
 

@yowser

If the buzzing/humming are in both speakers then you might have a ground loop issues. In my case it’s only in one channel (right speaker) and that says something. I will experiment more by disconnecting the XLR interconnects from my Classe preamp to the Cary power amp and see if the buzzing/humming goes away. If it goes away it means that it isn’t the power amp, it’s somewhere up the chain. But I never had any buzzing/humming issue with my Classe Sigma Amp2 class D power amp. Or perhaps class D amp isn’t as sensitive to noise as class AB amp? Who knows?

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yowser
97 posts
 

@dilatante 

Right now it's a very faint hum from both speakers, I really have to get my ear close to the speaker cone to hear it.  I am using XLR interconnects.  I did a search on ground loops and tried a few technics such as disconnecting the interconnects from components including the amp and using a cheater plug at the amp power cord and power conditioner to the wall outlet, but no change.  I never previously felt that I had a problem as the hum/buzz is very faint and I never noticed it until you asked me to check for it.  It seems to me that it's not unusual to hear a faint hum from a 200 watt amplifier, but I may be wrong.  IIRC my previous amps had at least a faint hum but definitely inaudible at my listening position which is only about 8 ft now..

mitch2
3,967 posts
 

Switch the cables at the amplifier only by connecting the left channel cable endpoint to the right channel amplifier input and the right channel cable endpoint to the left channel input.  If the problem is with the amplifier, then the noise should remain in the same channel. If the  noise changes to the other channel then you have  an issue with an upstream component, cable, or ground situation.

dilatante OP
76 posts
 

@mitch2  

I did. It is the power amp.

dilatante OP
76 posts
 

@yowser  

While the left channel is quiet but it has its own different issues. On occasion the sound in the left channel is cutting out and at times the output in the left channel is significantly lower than the right channel. It only happens every once in a while and randomly. 

 

This amp needs to be repaired and serviced. I have shipped it out to Cary Audio for repair / service. 

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