WONDERFUL S.E.T. SOUND..EXCEPTIONAL BUILD

I STILL SEARCHING

OWNED A CARY PUSH PULL AMP AND WAS QUITE PLEASED....BUT I KEPT READING ARTICLES ABOUT THE SOUND OF TRUE SINGLE ENDED TRIODE AMPS...AND I FELT I MUST OWN ONE...SO I BOUGHT THE CARY PURELY ON WHAT I HAD READ...SOME MAY SAY THATS PRETTY DUMB...BUT I HIT A HOME RUN WITH THIS AMP....WONDERFUL TONE...A MID RANGE TO DIE FOR ...AND ALL THAT MESS YOU HEAR ABOUT SET AMPS NOT HAVING GOOD BASS IS JUST NOT TRUE....MATCH THIS AMP WITH A PAIR OF EFFICENT SPEAKERS 8 OHMS 91db....AND THE CHASE FOR EQUIPMENT IS OVER..I'LL TAKE 20 AMPS OF TRUE TRIODE OVER SOME 200 WATT MEGA AMP ANY DAY...ITS ALL ABOUT THE TONE

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A.E.S.25 SUPER AMP

Build quality, compact (for tubes) size, very well-balanced in every way, at ease with most music types except hard rock.

nothing major to report, slim but deep dimensions may be problemsome in finding suitable stands.

I heard CARY may discontinue these as it may take away sales of their more expensive gear. I dont beleive this one bit. Is is a well-balanced amp. reliability has been very good so far. I leave my amps on "stand-by" on weekends to keep them warm. Otherwise the rapid-fast 3 minute warm-up still gets you plenty of quality for everyday listening. the best purchase I ever made, for my budget at least. I sincerely beleive that this product is without competition, the closest I have found to be the Canrad Johnson 45 watter integrated.It had beautifull highs, as the Cary, but things got mushy below. Very much recommended by someone who got sick of shopping! Replacement tube prices are reaseonable, too, but I have yet to replace anything.

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Sonic Frontier power 1 ( owned) Pathos integrated, Jadis orchestra, Krell 300i (on loan before purchase)

Luxurious sound on classical voice and similar.

Unreal luxurious sound.

This amplifier is perhaps the most captivating product I'ce ever heard. Female classical voice, for example, sounds truly heavenly ... but a great deal of other music in various genres, does not sound real. It is all overladen with considerable euphonic bloom. Too bad -- it's too much of a glorious thing.

Detail, imaging, bass response, vocals, looks, build quality, value. Switchable between 4 and 8 ohms.

None so far.

Associated equipment:
Amplifiers: Cary CAD 572 SE monoblocks (chrome chassis)
Preamplifier: Cary CAD 98 SLP w/ outboard power supply
CD player: Cary CAD CD 303
Turntable: Linn Axis w/ Basik and Grado Platinum Ref.
Phono Pre: Lehmann Black Cube
Speakers: BC Acoustique Nil's 93 dB/m
First of all, these monoblocks are a thing of beauty. The imaging is precise and well defined, throwing a very wide soundstage. Vocals are lifelike with tight bass response, devoid of the always nasty hanging bass notes. At 20 wpc, these monoblocks deliver more than enough power for my listening needs. At ½ volume, these monoblocks deliver volume at live concert levels in my listening room.

Non-fatiguing sound. Can listen for hours without desiring to turn it off.Very musical. Superb soundstaging and imaging. Excellent bass for a low power amp. Low hum and background noise. Well built and solid construction.

None

My system is composed of the following:
Pre-amp - Audible Illusions M3A w/ Gold Phono Preamp
Speakers - B&W 805
Speaker Cables(Bi-wired) - XLO Signature $ Audioquest Clear
Turntable - VPI TNT Mk 3.5
Phono Cartridge - Benz Micro Ruby H
Interconnects - Audioquest Lapis
CD/DVD - CAL 20

I consider most of my equipment as "Best Buys" but the Cary 572SE is simply the best value that I got for my money. It is not expensive as the Cary 300 or 805 SET amps but performs as well in most listening situations. Support from Cary is also the best! When I had some problems with the output tubes, they were replaced promptly and was even given a pair for free by Dennis Had(the President) who personally communicated and attended to me via email. I think Dennis is the best and most accommodating head of any high end company. When it comes to SET amp design and products, Cary can't be beat!

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B&K M200 Sonata Monoblocks

Well, it,s the best amp in the world for the price. I have 87 sensitivity speakers and they drive them with EASE!!!enough said.BASS is excellent HIGHS outstanding, there,s no amp better PERIOD......

NONE

The absolute best thing i have ever bought.Every thing starts with this Tube amp.I dont even need more power it,ll drive anything.WITH EASE!

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NONE

Air, space, dynamics, bass weight, build quality, midrange, soundstage

They generate a lot of heat--on hot days the a/c in my great room can't cope. Also, tube life is not great.

Associated Equipment:

Ah! Tjoeb! 4000 CD player
Cary SLP-94P preamp
Soliloquy 5.3 speakers
TMC white and yellow interconnects and speaker cables

This is my first tube amp. My entire system has been assembled over the last year with an eye toward economy and compatibility. When I was a child in the 1960's, my father had a great setup of Dynaco separates that he built from kits, plus AR 2A speakers and the original AR turntable that he put on a shelf on the wall. That system sounded great at all levels, and as my kids got old enough, I began hankering for a top-notch system to replace the Bryston 3B amp/HK Citation 25 pre/Phillips CD/Canton minis and C-V subwoofer system I'd had for over 10 years. After choosing the Soliloquy speakers (with the idea that I would be matching them with SET amps) I chose the Cary 572s based on the reviews I'd read here and in the audio press.

The amps are of very high build quality, and are very substantial. They kick out a pretty high amount of heat, so be careful where you have them situated. Also, I've gone through a few of the 572 power tubes in the last 6 months. Might have been that the two it came with were on their way out, but one of the replacements went too. I suspect that how you manage the on/off cycle has a lot to do with this. I was leaving them in the on/standby mode overnight. Now I am trying turning them off almost every night, unless I am sure I'll be listening to them in the morning.

The sound these make is wonderful. Grain-free, smooth highs, sweet midrange with timbre and presence, and an authoritative low-end that isn't timid. In my system they are far more than adequate for my listening room (26' by 20' with a 15' cathedral ceiling). I cannot turn the volume control past 9 o'clock without inducing pain, so I cannot testify to their ability to recover from clipping, which I understand is excellent. They are non-fatiguing and represent a huge improvement over the venerable Bryston 3B solid-state amp they replaced.

One of the toggle switches broke off during shipping. I shipped the unit to Cary for repair and they turned it around in short order. They don't respond to email very quickly, but their service itself is timely and professional.

I recommend these amps to anyone who wants to discover the joys of SET amplification and wants to get an audiophile experieince on a budget. I listen to rock, jazz, classical and folk music, and all are reproduced in my system with realism and a you-are-there presence.

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Bryston 3B, Harmon-Kardon, Dynaco tube

superb build quality

needs to be matched with speakers that are reasonalbly efficient

A POWER RATING OF 20 WATTS CAN BE VERY MISLEADING,WHEN IT COMES TO A TUBE AMP DESIGNED AS WELL AS THIS ONE.THE CARY 572 FILLED MY ROOM WITH A RICHNESS THAT I HAD NEVER EXPERIENCED FROM ANY SOLID STATE AMPLIFIER WITH UP TO 3 TIMES THE POWER RATING OF THE 572.A WELL EXECUTED SINGLE ENDED TRIODE TUBE DESIGN IS THE MOST NATURAL SOUNDING AMPLIFYING DEVICE ON THE PLANET TO THESE EARS...PERIOD... I WAS SICK AND TIRED OF READING ALL THE HYPE ABOUT THE CARY SOUND,BUT AFTER I SAT AND LISTENED I BEGAN TO UNDERSTAND WHAT THE FUSS IS ALL ABOUT....IF SWEET MIDRANGE AND CLEAR NATURAL TONES WITHOUT SOFT TUBEY COLORED CHARACTERS ARE WHAT YOU ARE LOOKING FOR THIS MAY BE THE AMP FOR YOU...IT IS NOT THE BEST AMP THAT I HAVE HEARD FROM THE CARY CAMP BUT I WOULD HAVE TO SPEND TWICE AS MUCH TO FIND BETTER AND THIS AMP ALREADY TAKES ME THERE... EQUIPMENT:TURNTABLE TECHNICS SP10MKII,SOLILOQUY 5.3 SPEAKERS,MELOS 333 PREAMP,PERPUTUAL TECH P3 DAC.PIONEER 606 DVD,JPS LABS CABLES AND INTERCONNECTS

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conrad johnson,rogue,sonic frontiers,joule,

Beautifull highs, see-thru soundstage, beautifull to look at

Ultimate stadium-level volume unavailable, not necessarily a weakness!

Clearly the best sounding of the bunch. I cannot agree with a 3 star rating. Stereophiles says "this amp deserves to become a Classic" while I do not always endorse reviews in Stereophile, they got this one right.Not quite up to the class setting CARY 805 level, but close...(unless you have 8-10 grand lying around) If you dont like the sound coming out from these glorious tubes, look elswhere in your system for trouble. These 20 watt class A beauties are a delight for your souls, with the right balance of mids and highs. OK Krell has deeper lows (but it's still a Krell), but hey, you can't have everything at this price right?
Get a DVD or other resolving player for this one, because if you feed it the right bits, it will warm them up and fill your house with beautifull music. Definitely recommended by me. Can I give it 6 stars?

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Krell 300i, Conrad-J CAV 50, Sim Audio I-5, Classe CAP 151

Beautifull build quality, superb tonal balance

None so far

What can I say, these are work of arts. The 572 tube must be in the running for the most beautifull tube to watch at night. When it glows along with the blue CARY led's, it's a real warm spectacle. The sound you say? Who cares! Seriously, I have never heard a bad CARY single-ended product.The single-ended line is legendary. The 572's are no exception. Nice soudstage, voices and cymbals are so palpable, and the bass is nicely shaped.Power is adequate, although I was a bit scared at the 20 watt rating. It seems more powerfull than my prvious Naim amp. At full price, there are no competitors I can name ( bought it for $ 1,600 used, but mint). If you can find a bargain on these, jump on it. I dont know if CARY makes any money but it's my gain...One caveat, it does run warm, because of it's class A rating, but the emotion generated will win you over. Enough said, back to the music....

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