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I am thinking about replacing my Cary 805b's with a Levinson 332...wanted to get some opinions on should or shouldn't. Just wanting to try something new but would really regret going backwards in sound as either amplifier option isn't cheap to re-buy.
My system consists of:
Cary SLP-03
Cary 805b
Monitor Audio Studio 20 SEC
John Kenny Ciunas USB dac with Mac Mini with Pure Music
Nirvana SL-1 cables
Follow Ups:
I said Cary & Levinson were different but really didn't elaborate, keep in mind this is my observations as I hear them. In comparison the Levinson will seem leaner with a more tight defined bass, I'd have to say more transparent in general and more detail, in an analytical way but not in a bad way, quicker transients as well. Cary has more delicate highs, more colorations and that blooming bass, good sense of rhythm, warmer all round.
The two would be an interesting mix but I personally feel the synergy between a Cary pre and Levinson power amp wouldn't be there. Just two different presentations I don't think would blend, but sometimes you never know until you try. You also have to consider your speakers in the equation. I haven't heard your model but every Monitor Audio Gold or Silver I've heard has had quite a bit of high end energy where the Cary probably mellows that some.
Were you wanting a different sound or just improve what you have? Levinson has that new 585 integrated amp with built in DAC.
Thanks for all of the responses....really want to improve dynamics(more headroom). I get no harshness from the treble via the Monitor Audio Studio 20's what a get is great detail top to bottom but when I push the volume up you can hear the limits of the Cary amplifiers. My comparison of the Levinson is that I have a opportunity to trade the Cary amps for a 332.
I have a older Proceed Amp 2 in the system to get a feel for what I would get via solid state vs tubes and I like what I am hearing so far and feel like it could only get better with a better amplifier(Levinson) in the mix. I have read the quotes of change this or try that and I do appreciate the advice but I have what I have to work with and with out selling the Cary outright I am at the mercy of what is available to trade in the market place.
You are right, if you like what the Proceed is doing you should be very happy with the #332.
Agree, Cary to Levinson is a big change sonically, pretty much opposite ends of the spectrum.
Just FYI, Dave, At Home Theatre Design in Lake St. Louis carries both Cary and Levinson with some of each on display.
I'm using Revel F52's and you are welcome to get together sometime if you wanted to hear my Pass, speaking of Class A bias.
Not sure what your budget would be, a friend of mine uses a TRL preamp, The Dude, and it's an outstanding tube preamp. Sounds like you have your sources but you could also use a Cary DAC direct to amp. Of course, if a couple sources like me this wouldn't work.
Mr Peabody..I have the F52`s also and I`m curious what amps you have used with them and what were/are your opinions of them ?
For my taste the Pass Labs amps are great with the F52's. You get a controlled, detailed presentation while remaining musical and nonfatiguing. The F52's like an amp with some current. I used a vintage Threshold for a while with good results which led me to try the Pass.I used a Bryston 3Bst just to see how it sounded, I had a CJ preamp at the time, it was not a bad set up, just not what I was looking for.
I hooked an ATI 3000 series amp up to them, enormous bottom end thrust, a warm midrange that seemed to pop the performers out into the room. This could have been a contender but I didn't have enough time to listen to see if I was missing detail.
If you are on a budget, and, I have not had a chance to hear this amp in my system, but you can get an audition in yours, you should look at the Merrill Audio Taranis. I heard the Merrill flagship amps in another system and was impressed.
What are you currently using?
Edits: 06/19/15
Currently I`m using a Class D Audio SDS470 prior to that I was using a Rogue ST90 w/KT120`s.
I like the effortless power of the SDS470 but I also liked the fine/subtle details of the Rogue.
When I first got the F52's I was using Conrad Johnson 100 watt monoblocks, the 120's would probably even have more control than the EL34's I had, the tubes did sound great but the F52's were much happier with solid state current.
What is your budget, the Merrill Audio Taranis may give you best of both worlds. Or, look around to see what a Pass Labs X150.5 would run you, new or used depending on funds. I'm using the X250, you may find one of those around $3k used. I'm not saying the Pass reaches all the midrange magic of a nice tube set up but it's a great spot between tubes and solid state that lacks. Pass provides nice micro/macro dynamics, able to give you the control, transients while being musical.
I'm not sure how long you've had the F52's but I find them very neutral, like having a studio monitor. Sometimes friends bring over music and claim I have no bass. I tell them their disc doesn't have bass and then throw something on I know has decent bass program. The F52's aren't going to color things up.
I`ve had my F52`s for about 3 years. I like the Pass idea but I`m not looking to spend that much.
I`m going to try a Parasound A21 (used) when I find a nice one. Then one or the other will stay.
I`m also sorely tempted to find a clean Rogue Atlas Magnum. I honestly don`t play my music all that loud and Bass wise, I have a Revel Ultra Sub 15 which helps in filling out the room and I let the F52`s run full on.
Thanks much for all the suggestions.
I hope the OP isn`t offended by this mini hijack.
Steve
The A21 should work well. A friend of mine had that amp with Maggies, he then switched to Pass, he liked the Pass better but there were aspects of the A21 he still missed. It's a good hi fi bargain. Coda amps are good too if you see a good deal used. The Coda guys and Pass both were involved in Threshold.
I bet that sub moves some air.
I probably have half a dozen Proceed Amp 2s I've used for years, then moved on to Proceed HPA 2 and HPA 3 amps (500 watt 4 Ω Levinson mono-blocks in an industrial case). The HPA 2 stopped powering up so I recently replaced the HPA 3 with 3 Parasound JC-1s (800 watts into 4 Ω). The amps drive KEF Reference 107/2s rated at 90 dB sensitivity, which should be an easy load. Much to my surprise, the improvement in detail and bass extension is not subtle. Although the JC-1s are not shy in the HF range, the overall sound seems just a bit warmer than it is with the HPA amps. The principal source I use for stereo is an Ayre C-5xeMP through a JC-2 BP preamp.
My cousin uses a pair of Cary 805s to drive Innersound speakers. His setup sounds beautiful for jazz, vocals, and small groups, but large orchestrations can sound muddy in the lower mid range. I've attributed this to the Innersound speakers, but posts in this thread lead me to wonder if the amps may be a contributor. The 805s are a handsome sight with all their tubes glowing.
db
Moving from a Cary SLP-98 to an Emotive Audio preamp was perhaps the best upgrade I ever did. In any event, I would keep the 805's and get a new preamp.
Wow that IS a surprise!
Considering the cost difference and R&D that went into the Cary.
Enjoy
charles
How did the Emotive preamp sound compared to your SLP-98? I'm a real fan of the Cary SLP-05 but never heard the SLP-98.
I started with the Sira, which to be fair, was probably twice the cost of the SLP-98 at that time. I auditioned a few preamps during that period to replace the Cary and the Emotive Audio Sira was the winner in overall musicality, sense of scale, dynamics, and lowest noise. Soon after Fred Volz introduced the Epifania and I have the 2nd one built. I have been using that preamp for over 10 years now and still love it.
I have the SLP-98P with NOS tubes that really improved the character and have a Bob's SUT in front for my TT. I am quite happy with this setup. The Epifania must be a quantum leap to the better. That would be out of range with the rest of my gear, but the things I've read about that sound wonderful. Congrats on owning that. You don't see alot of members with that piece. Love to hear it, can't affort it.
Should try one.
The SLP-03 is out of place with the superb Cary 805b. I had the SLP-03 for a brief while and it was not worthy of the Cary name IMHO. On the other hand the SLP-05 was by far the best sounding tube preamp I ever owned.
Agree with Tidycat on all counts, big difference. What are you looking to achieve? It's not backwards or forward but certainly quite different. I've personally never been a fan of the 805 because of the rolloff at the top and bottom. Another option is going with a pp tube amp that is more linear and has better extension top to bottom than the Cary. I also agree that Class A biased ss amps sound best if going ss.
I believe that going from the 805 design to solidstate will be difficult.I would start with pure Class A biased amplifiers.The higher the power ,the more transistors in parallel.This will move you out of the sound made by a single tube output unit.
I have always liked the sound of the Symphonic Line amps (RG-1or 4).The Gamut,Gryphon,Pass XA.
Do you have a budget? Are you looking for a more full frequency amplifier? The 805 is beautiful,but when you get into the higher frequencies (cymbals,bells) it is rounded.Below the midbass (plucked bass) it can get a little wooly IMO.But Oh that midrange.
Tom:cat
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