2. amps-preamps
  3. 1137915382

Canary Audio...

I borrowed a Canary CA301 MK2 for in an home audition.. It has 4 western electic 300B installed and it sounds better than my conrad johnson Premier 11A in almost every aspect except the bass (which happens to be 11A's weakness too.) Granted, the WE 300B are way expensive (and arguably superior) than the svetlana KT88 on my 11A...

Apparently Canary is not a popular brand name and I cannot even find many reviews online... I have about a week to decide if I want to keep the CA301. Please share if you own or have any expeience...

Also, I wonder how it compares to CA309 which features double the power...

Thanks.

My other components:
CDP: ARC CD1
Pre: CJ 17LS
Speaker: VA beethoven.
hklai
chotdavid
3 posts
 
Hi Hklai,

I have the Canary CA-330s paired up with Conincident's Total Eclipse. My preamp is a BAT VK-30SE. My source is a Clearaudio Champion II turntable. In this system, the sound is so natural and unfatiguing. The sound is effortless with good extension at both ends. I've had my CA-330s for 18 months now, and it's been a delight. Before this I had a B&W 805N coupled with an ARC VT-100 Mk II.

Sorry but I have no experience with the 301s.
Hope this helps.

Alfred
jaybo
4,478 posts
 
have you tried the canary on your vienna acoustics? i cant help thinking that 1.the cj is more capatible 2.you might try different tubes to improve the sound and 3.the cj will drive a wide variety of speakers and 5 years down the road a premiere 11 will still be considered a classic
hklai OP
14 posts
 
Thanks for your replies Chotdavid and Jaybo. And Jaybo, yes I have already tried the Canary on my VA.

I realize that the Canary seems to have a higher amplification. Without changing the volumne control, Canary in fact plays louder than CJ. It gave me wrong initial impression that Canary features fuller body and better dynamic.

In order to compensate the difference in loudness, I have to adjust the volumne whenever I switch the amp (roughly a 3db difference).

The most significant different I can tell now is the midrange. Canary (or the 300B tubes) got more magical midrange to a point that vocal does not sound very realistic... at least I have never heard a real person sings to that degree of sweetness. =)

I will do more listening in the next couple days but quite likely I'm going to hang on to my 11A for a while longer.

cheers,
andy
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