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Hi,Has anyone compared these players? The Cary comes with various selectable upsamplings rates and the choice between solid state and tube outputs. I have seen a review which says that you can bring out the best in a recording by selecting the appropriate upsampling rate on the Cary. Is this real or are these options simply a gimmick?
I would also be interested on any comments on the MBL.
Follow Ups:
I have written in this asylum with my definitive view that 303/300 does sound good, but not as good as 306/200. When I compared between the two, I found the upsampling and tube alternative merely gimmicky. (Many other people reported that they found them good, which I would never agree.) Unfortunately I have not audition the Ayre and MBL. I had almost wanted to try the Ayre but its terrible looking LED display just turned me off.
I owned the Cary 306/200 for about 3 years and indeed it is a fine CD player. I also had a Cary 303/300 on loan to me but I didn't have both models available to me at the same time.If audio memory serves me, I would say that the solid-state output from the new Cary 303/300 is more extended especially in the treble and it's overall sound is perhaps more neutral compared to the 306/200. I found the 306/200 to sound a little more robust or rich particulary in the mids with not as much treble.
I actaully preferred the 303/300 over the 306/200 in SOLID-STATE mode. When the 303/300 was switched to tube output mode, I actually preferred the 306/200 or even the less expensive vacuum tube 308T.
So Abe, what cd player are you using now. Did you not keep the Cary 303/300? I thought it had a slight edge tonally in your system compared to the Accuphase 65v.
The Cary 303/300 did very well in my system but not enough for me to swap out my Accuphase DP-65v. The Accuphase also has digital inputs that allow me to use it as an external DAC for other digital source components - like my Sony 5-disc changer. I wish the 303/300 had digital inputs; The 306/200 does.
Hi,
I've heard the first two although not at the same time or in the same system.
The Ayre is an excellent player across the board and a good value.
The Cary is also very good but much less of a value IMHO. I always preferred the tube output in my listening rendering the ss output redundant. I did find the selectable upsampling a useful feature. However I auditioned the Cary against the Musical Fidelity A5 and preferred the latter for its more even tonal balance. The Cary in all modes & outputs seems to overemphasize the upper bass, leaving the upper midrange and treble a bit thin. The MF also costs $1500 less. There is a review of the A5 and the Lector CDP7 in this month's Absolute Sound and I agree with the reviewers description of the A5 contained therein.
As an aside I also mostly agree with the description of the Lector (which I recently had on loan in my system). The reviewer however did miss the fact (perhaps due to her entry level equipment?) that the Lector rolls off the top end.
If you are willing to consider a modded player, Modwright is running a special on their Platinium Sig. Sony 999ES which is a superb value and what I currently own.
Good luck.
R
Hi,Thanks for your post. I have heard the MF A5 in my system but found it too bright. Note that the reason I am looking for a new player is because my current system is too laid back. Clearly, I need something between my current CDP (Arcam Transport and Arcam DAC) and the MF A5 in terms of 'brightness'.
How does the Cary 303/300 and the MF A5 compare in terms of brightness?
Hi,
I found the 303-300 to have a fuller bass and a brighter treble than the A5.
What is the rest of your system? I ask because I'm surprised you found the A5 brighter than an Arcam. Could there be something else in your system that is causing the brightness you heard with the A5? A cable mismatch perhaps? Not that I know what would be good cable choices for it.
Perhaps the Ayre would be a good candidate: it's resolving, dynamic, extended on both ends, with a good tonal balance and prat.
R
Hi,I have heard the Ayre as well as the MF. I found the MF to be a lot brighter. However I heard them in two different systems. Do you know how the Ayre compares with the MF in terms of brightness. BTW, when I say bright I mean that the treble frequencies are more emphasised. I do not mean that the player sounds harsh.
I auditioned the Shanling T100C on my system some months ago and I found that unit very bright as well as harsh.
Hi,
I also heard the players in two different systems. Neither sounded bright to me.
It could be that it's your speakers that is causing the brightness: I haven't heard the 703s but some B&Ws can be bright. Also, Kimber Monocle being a very thick copper cable, may emphasize the bass, leaving the treble exposed and aggravating any brightness in your speakers.
All in all the tonal problems (too warm, too bright) seem to me to be more a system imbalance than a weakness in the DAC/CDPs.
R
Hi,It is exactly system imbalance I am worried about. I would like to get a player that matches my system. This is incredibly difficult if not impossible to do if I am not able to hear the CDP in my system. In most cases I can't hence my post here to find out how these players differ in terms of brightness. Bear in mind that I currently have a very warm system and want to brighten the sound but not too bright. This is a great hobby but also a difficult one!
nt
"Bear in mind that I currently have a very warm system and want to brighten the sound but not too bright. This is a great hobby but also a difficult one!"Cary 303/300 (solid-state output) in my view is a bit 'brighter' than the other Cary CDP's that I have owned or auditioned. The 306/200 is more rich and robust but not as extended.
Hi,The MF A5 was auditioned with B&W 703 speakers and a Primare A30.1 integrated amp. The interconnect used was an Analysis Plus Copper Oval In. The speaker cable was a Kimber Monocle. I found the sound bright. I haven't heard the Cary yet but am hoping it will not be as bright. I have also heard the Shanling T100C on this system and found it to be even brighter - to the point of being unlistenable! However, my Arcam DAC and transport provide a very (too) warm sound.
I can't comment on the MF but relative to other recent Cary players, I find the 303/300 more extended in the treble (bright?) while in solid-state mode compared to the Cary 306/200 or 308T.
You may find one setting for oversampling that you like and leave it there. But if you mood changes or another component changes, OR you get a CD that has been mastered poorly it is nice to have the adjustment available to you.It's like power seats in your car. One setting you stick with but on a long trip moving a little makes all the difference.
As to the tube vs solid state...I only listen to it tube but if given a choice between the two why not have it? And you can make it as dark as you want or have sparkle with 12AU7 which are the most widely available new old stock tube I can think of.
Hi Kevin,
I was just wondering whether or not you have detected any harshness or thining of sound (lack of warmth) when HDCD is engaged. I along with a few others on this board have experienced this problem with the 308-T model, which also uses DSP decoding software in lieu of the Pacific Microsonics chip. I suppose for most people this is a non-issue because of limited HDCD availability, but I for one find the Cary quite poor while playing this material. Any thoughts or comments? Thanks
Nick
Haven't heard the 303. But when I tested a 306/200 a couple years ago, we switched the updampling from 96 to 192 and back. There was an audible difference, and we preferred the 96 on certain cuts.
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