Video Asylum

Posted by neoprufrok (A) on February 24, 2005 at 10:48:13

I'm not sure if it shoudl be here or in the amp/pre forum.

A little long story - I had a 2 channel setup (well aside from my Audio Refinement Pre5 analog multichannel preamp) and was happy with it. It consisted of the AR Pre5, Anthem Amp2SE with Seimens tubes, and Gallo Reference 3s with Velodyne DD12.

However, the DVD player's processing was lackluster compared to what I've heard. That and the fact that I had another digital source (M Audiophile Soundcard Digi Coax from my Mac music server) I started to realize that a source that could decode the DVD and have a DAC for the music server would be nice. I use the music server mainly for background music. My Arcam CD93t serves as my 2 channel critical listening device. Add to that a cable based HD DVR with 5.1 Dolby Digital output - I needed a common source for everything.

I thought about going to a seperate room for music - but my wife nixed that idea pretty quick. So I went on a search for a pre/pro.

I had been avoiding purchasing any Pre/Pro because most of the ones I heard somehow got in the way of my 2 channel listening - which is 70% of my time. I was starting to imagine strange ways of connecting my 2channel rig via bypasses, etc. Then I stumbled upon a review of the Cary Cinema Pre/Pro and Amp. I'd always loved Cary's tubed gear - but never really knew about their SS gear. I promptly arranged an audition.

Let's just say I have a new Cary Cinema 6 Pre/Pro and Cary Cinema 5 Amp in my living/entertainment room. Its only had about 40 hours on, so I can't say much but the following.

-2 channel is surprisingly better than my old 2 channel rig. Transparent with great soundstage width, but not yet deep as my old rig. Tonal balance is on the warm shade of neutral - jsut perfect for me. And the bass? Oh man the bass is great. Not as dynamic and brutal as Krell amps I've heard, but great control, great delineation, and very musical.

-the DAC is surprisingly good. Not sure the specs, but it takes the digicoax output from my ext soundcard and does a good job of making music with it. Doesn't sound as unified as the Arcam - but very good and almost more "exciting" then the Arcam.

-Very easy to use. Its pretty straightforward to setup and use. I'm sure the AVSForum guys wouldn't like it - it doesn';t have all the technical gizmos and adjustments that other pre/pros and recievers have - but it does what I need it to do - nothing more nothing less.

I'll save further comments until I get past the break in, but I'm enjoying music like never before. Love this setup!

BTW, I hope this forum gets more active - I guess my philosophy is different than that in AVS Forums so I tend to go here because we are (for the most part) subjectivists who are more interested in what sounds good to OUR ears, and les sinterested in finding scientific proof for what we hear.