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Anyone heard the new Cary SA-500.1 Monoblocks?

Stereophile from CES 2011 said,
The SA-500.1 sounded warm, open, coherent and dynamic playing high-resolution files courtesy of David Chesky and HDTracks.
Cary's white paper indicates the 500.1's maintain the "Cary Sound" (similar characteristics to their tubed designs) with a host of design improvements "over our previous efforts" (the 500MB?) including substantial power supply improvements; current-handling capacity; improved bass performance; reduced noise floor; improved imaging, staging, depth, and dimensionality; a more "lifelike and palpable" midrange; and improved transparancy. One specific change is apparently eliminating the former large capacitors (that "suffer from problems including (ESR) Equivalent Series Resistance), using multiple smaller capacitors (like McCormack DNA?) and "adding bypass capacitors at the output devices." The amps also apparently feature improved reliability and a "modular design" that would allow easy field repairs.

These are apparently a significantly different (better?) amp from the former model 500MB monos that I owned and enjoyed.

I am interested in hearing from anyone who has actually heard and seen them.
mitch2
rayooo
70 posts
 
I recently received a recommendation to use Cary SA-500.1s with my Mag 3.7s.

I was hoping to get a couple "second opinions", as It just seems I never hear of Cary PwrAmps being used with Magnepan.

I can't seem to find any reviews of the SA-500.1s, or for that matter much information at all due I guess to their being quite new. (other than the Cary web site)

Comments and suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
mitch2 OP
4,223 posts
 
Since my June post, I have received my upgraded Clayton M300 amps and they are outstanding. Totally quiet, they improve on the earlier version in dynamics, bass depth and slam, and dimensionality, none of which were weaknesses with the original version - just that the new version is better. I believe the improvements are mainly in power supply and even larger/better transformers. Of course, the Clayton's are run fully in Class A bias, which means even with their low/high bias switch, it is best not to leave them on all the time. A blessing and a curse, the Class A issue is one reason I seriously considered the Cary amps, and ultimately the reason I stayed with the Clayton's - they just sound so darn good.

Regarding the Cary SA-500.1's, I will post some links that I was able to find, but nothing except the Moon Audio link is new since June when I last looked. Cary did tell me they were sending a pair in for review by a major audiophile magazine, so be on the lookout for an upcoming review. Here are a few links I found in addition to what's on the Cary site:
http://www.stereophile.com/content/cary-audio-design-goes-solid-state
http://www.ultrahighendforum.com/viewtopic.php?f=199&t=4074
http://www.moon-audio.com/home-audio/cary-audio/cary-sa-500-1-solid-state-power-amplifier.html
rayooo
70 posts
 
Thanks Mitch2, I'll keep my eyes open for further developments... 'just took a peek at Clayton, very nice.

I've been trying for a couple months now to even get down to a short list of amps to consider, the list keeps getting bigger not shorter.

I'm hoping to have this be my last amp-buy for several years, which I guess adds to the stress of not making the wrong decision.

I'm pretty sure I'll be able to bring the SA500.1s home for a few days...which will help. I've had zero luck over the years trying to judge PAmps rooms I'm not at all familiar with.
rayooo
70 posts
 
I just got a pair of 500.1s. Currently they are doing a bit of burning in. At this very moment playing Rudiger from Golden Heart, but I'm not listening. :)

Early indications are that they would be right at home in between the CJET5 and Maggy3.7s

thanks to John Rutan for getting them for me.

I'm anxious to have a good listen... soon now
podeschi's avatar
podeschi
303 posts
 
Bump for update from Rayooo on how the 500.1s sound especially relative to driving the 3.7s, and any comments on soundstage/imaging?
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