This is a simple review to write. I am using my AES Super Amp II in Triode and have the upgraded Jensen caps and the Cary Soft Shoes. I have used this amp with Bozak Concert Grands, The Horn Shop single driver speakers, Shahinian Arcs and PSB Synchrony Ones and in every case it exceeded my expectations by a wide margin. The first thing you must do to get the most out of this or any modern tube amp is check to see if it uses Chinese driver tubes. If it does replace them with NOS tubes and you will have upgraded your amp by an order of magnitude that you won't believe. I use either 1950's Sylvania 6SN7s or Ken-Rad and they are both fantastic but different.
This amp is dynamic, detailed and still has a touch of that tube warmth that makes tube lovers go crazy. The amp floats an image in space like a $10,000 tube amp not a $2,000 one. If you want to play with tubes without going broke find one of these amps and you may never need to change your amp again. I have used it it both ways but mainly in triode. You loss a little bass drive but the gain in midrange immediacy is well worth it for me.
The bass has way more detail than most tube amps, even very expensive ones. I think I see why Cary stopped making these. They had to hurt the sales of the regular Cary amps.
The high frequencies are not at all rolled off and I think this is why the images float so beautifully in the air and have such a feeling of depth.
Simply put, if you have one keep it and if you see one buy it.

This is a correction to the previous review.

When I submitted the review I gave it a 5 star overall and 5 star value rating, but only 2 stars showed up on overall rating when it was posted. I contacted Audioreview to change it but they didn't or couldn't correct it so I'm writing this review as an amendment to my first.

This amp is so good for the money that it deserves the correct representation of 5 stars for both value and overall. These amps never show up used and that is a credit to its sound and build quality. Thank you Dennis Had for another fine product from Cary Audio and Audio Electronics.

Big and tight bass, magical and creamy midrange, airy highs.
Easy to bias the tubes.
Can use many other tubes besides EL34, like 6L6, 6550, KT88, KT90. The owners manual is clear on how to bias them all.
Build quality and looks.

Stock feet.

This is one smokin' poweramp. Sure bests my Jolida 302 by a large margin. It has beautiful and rugged build and is has much improved looks over the original Super Amp. The old one looked like a kit amp and this one looks as good as Cary Audio amps.

For those who don't know, AES is a division of Cary Audio, and is where Dennis Had ties out his new designs. These amps are so good that Cary had to up the ante on his Cary products. This looks like Cary's Rocket 88 amp that is now discontinued...interesting. I'm told by Cary that this amp has much improved transformers over their older products.

Now for the sound. This amp is a cross between SS and tubes. It has a big tight bass, musical midrange, and airy highs. Changing the stock feet out for better feet like Cary's own Soft Shoes makes a big difference in air and room ambience, while the bass becomes more tuneful.

This amps very good input sensativity allows it to be used with passive preamps as well as active. I'm using mine with the variable output of my Benchmark DAC1 for an ultra revealing sound from by-passing the use of a preamp. Benchmark recommends running their DACs directly into a power amp for the best sound and the combo of the ultra clean DAC and the magic of tubes is a match made in heaven.

My minimalist 2 channel system produces amazing sound. Every time I listen to it I can't believe my ears. This system has unbelievable synergy. You should try it.

Customer Service

The best, it is Cary Audio of course.