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In Reply to: RE: Tube Monoblock Magnepan Advice posted by tz7 on August 20, 2014 at 18:55:03
I love the AES/Cary SixPac monoblocks! I bought them to replace the first tube amp I ever owned. I had the CJ Premier 11a that cost more than a pair of SixPacs. The AES/Cary SixPacs were significantly better sounding than the CJ and more dynamic.
Unfortunately I sold the SixPacs when I got my larger Thiel CS2.4 speakers that required more power. Now that I am back to using my more efficient Tannoys in my combo home office / listening room, I wouldn't mind having my SixPacs back. I miss 'em. It's a shame they're no longer made. I thought they were one of the best bargains in audio.
My SixPacs before I sold 'em
The sweet sound of EL34s is intoxicating
Nothing fancy but they sound oh so lovely
Follow Ups:
Abe, thanks for your response. One of the reasons I originally bought the six pacs was because of your recommendation.
Thanks for all the replies.
Try to answer a couple of questions:
1. Cary offers Clarity MR-style caps. They used to offer Jensen and Cardas.
2. The amp is performing fine. I actually had to box them up for several years. I have tried a couple of other amps. I thought the M-60s with all of its awards would be my final amp. Since that didn't work out, I am now thinking the six pacs are my final amp and its been a while and I should upgrade the caps.
3. I upgraded the caps in the maggies cross over and it made a real difference. So I hope upgrading the amp caps will also make a significant difference.
4. I am willing to spend more money $5k) for a tube, monoblock amp that is an improvement. But I think I have I a couple including the M60s and I keep coming back to the texture, lively and hefty sound of the six pacs
5. I replaced the power tubes with Gold Lion tubes. I also upgraded the splitter tubes which made a difference.
The power supply caps are probably just fine. The Clarity caps are coupling caps , and I would definitely invest in upgrading those and upgrading the diodes to hexfreds.
I replaced the main coupling caps in my Rogue Audio stereo 90 to Mundorf Supreme (V-caps would not fit!) and V-caps for the other coupling stages and the diodes to hexfreds. The difference was not subtle. Good caps and diodes are costly and most manufacturers cannot afford to put the goods into amps built to a price point.
If you like the amps this is the most cost effective upgrade you can make IMO. New amps that are significantly better will cost thousands more.
Highly recommended.
My SixPacs were completely basic with no optional cap upgrades but they sounded wonderful, one of my all time favorites.
If you are concerned with your SixPacs due to age, you could have Cary give them a complete checkup and replace some caps while they're at it. This is completely up to you.
Personally, I wouldn't let any tube tech or hack 'modder' start gutting it and willy nilly replace caps unless they have prior experience and references specifically with the SixPacs.
I would go to Cary especially if you want to keep these amps forever and maintain their value.
But that's just my opinion. My other thought is to leave them be if they sound fine unless you want to factory 'refresh' them for the long haul.
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