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Upgrading Cary CAD 300sei integrated

Would appreciate if Cary users could share their expirience please.
The common upgradis are power and output transformers plus caps, but which one to get? I read a lot good things about Tamura brand and may will be prepare to go for it, but are there some others for less?

From caps, Jensen's been advised by a good friend of my, but than again, which one, mean, want to keep the budget healthy:-)

Also, do you think that I have to upgrade all in once or just starting from transformers may give the huge step up already?

And last, but not least, what are the results and the total financial damage? Do you think it was worth to do or you ended up bying another amp after all?

THX
maxmad
mechans
3,048 posts
 
I agree with Jrin..dnet. The cost of mods can be prohibitive. IMHO you are considering taking the heart and soul of this amp and by changing the the Trannies.
I can't imagine that such a major mod would sell well unless someone really just wants the highly reputable Tamuras. I would do as little damage as possible -replaced caps are generally better accepted mods.
The resale on heavily modded units not only seems to impact what you can ask but almost never recoups your modding costs. Just browse the for sale section and you will see.
I echo the above if you really want better trannies I for would get a different amp.
Post removed 
jrinkerptdnet
430 posts
 
cap upgrade may be worhtwhile ... I would certainly CONSIDER having it done by Cary Audio though IF I was concerned about re-sale value at all
Post removed 
maxmad OP
182 posts
 
Hi to all,

Many thanks for your replays, hmmm, so, transformers upgrade isnt that good idea, ok...
I was thinking of Air Tight, but he is out of my price range plus it needs WE to shine, where my Cary already have what he needs, regarding tubes, have best for them, becides, I love what I hear. Thats why I was thinking about possible upgrade of already good sounding unit, simply say increase and not fully changing his sonic basics. If I am going to do this it will be done by Cary dealer for sure, already have good contact with them and done some voltage rewiring from 110 to 230 and fully check through them. I am not US based, so, things bit complicated when you want to deal with Cary directly.

@Viridian

I looked for some info about the recovery diodes, but would you be so kind to tell me, in simple words, what they do please. Sorry for my tech simplicity

O.k. if we are talking about the caps and recovery diodes only, what exactly going to be changed? I supose Cary have some power cap/caps and some output or coupling caps, how many are there and which one make the most influence on the sound sig? Would you be so kind to give me some idea of most important parts inside that must be at high level. Thing is, my amp build in 1994, its a classic model and I am not totally sure what kind of changes been possibly made in these years. So, because of that, the next question is, are there things that must be changed in the time, cos of the age? I mean, wastage plays a part here, isnt? For example, I may possible go for upgrade of transformers, but than go for new one from Cary own, is that an idea? Are the transformers and caps getting worse in the time, I supose they do.
We are not talking about sonic upgrades only, but also improvement of tech part, however they didnt found anything wrong with amp when it was fully checked.

Bottom line, what do you think are crusual and possibly can be done as first basics to get it tech and sonic improvements please.

THX
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