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Amp recommendation: Cary SS vs. McCormack vs. Ayre

I am building a system with a limited budget. I have some Sehring 703 speakers (86db sensitivity at 8 ohms) and a Manley Shrimp preamp on the way. I have limited space in my A/V cabinet, so do not have room for a tube amp. But I am looking for something that when paired with the Manley Shrimp will have a tube-like sound.

My budget is max $1,600. These are the three amps I am considering.

1. McCormack 125 -- the 500 gets good reviews, so this probably sounds pretty good as well (right?)
2. Ayre V3 -- also gets good reviews. Only concern is that it has been out of production for a long time and if it breaks it won't be serviceable.
3. Cary A-2 -- Cary has a very good reputation for their tube amps, but I can't find much on their "lower-end" solid state 2-channel amps.

Any thoughts/recommendations would be much appreciated.
mcondon
wireless200
415 posts
 
I was in the Cary factory the other day and was told they don't even make class D amps anymore. I was also under the impression they made mostly if not all their SS amps class D. I often thought that class D amp they did make for a while hurt their overall SS amp reputation. Class D is basically a plug and play module.

Another misconception about Cary I've often read on the 'gon was that only their tube amps are made in the US. I was told that some of the preprocessors and DVD players are made overseas (at Cary Hong Kong). All their SS amps and pre-amps and I think their CD players are still made in Cary, NC.
macdadtexas
1,794 posts
 
I have a Cary 500mb and man, I love it. The best amp I have ever owned, well for my set up, and I have had a bunch of them!!
dawgcatching
139 posts
 
I have an upgraded DNA-125 (Gold) that is absolutely stellar for the price of the amp used plus upgrade. I haven't heard anything that beats it at that price. Very musical, detailed, big soundstage, powerful, can listen for hours. I did have trouble mating to a tube preamp, due to high input sensitivity, but it can be done, just choose wisely. For a few more $, the Platinum revision can give you the current required for demanding loads. Dehavilland Ultraverve/Superverve pre and upgraded DNA-125 made a great combo in the $3,500 separates (used) range. The ARC LS26 was also nice, but a little noisier than the Dehavilland.
czbbcl's avatar
czbbcl
1,752 posts
 
conrad johnson should be on your short list. They are known for making tube sounding ss and they run cool as a cucumber. They can be had within your budget used here on the gon.
steidlguitars
90 posts
 
Wireless200, are you sure about Cary not making Class D amps? I thought that the amps in the "Concept Series" were Class D, and the website backs that up.

Is Cary dropping that line?
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