Cary 300SEI vs Art Audio PX-25

I've had the 300SEI and currently own the PX-25 in my system(Cain&Cain IM-Bens) and the two are totally different approaches to SET, sonically.

As pointed out, the Cary is ultra-lush, warm, rich sounding. Whether too much so or not is a matter of personal taste(way too much for me). An analogy might be that the PX-25 is fine silk and the 300SEI rich, blood red, velvet.

That's not to imply that the PX-25 is reserved or delicate sounding, just that it is more refined in every aspect while still delivering a musically vivid presentation. As one reviewer said "It's as if notes, instruments, are lit from within". It is also has amazing current drive capabilities for a SET, meaning some of the best bass response I've ever heard out of any SET amp. The PX-25 is truly one of the great SETs made.

As for the 300SEI, it lives for the midrange. A sort of hyper-reality in that band, but I can understand why loyal Cary fans love it. Unfortunately, I found it's low frequencies loose and poorly controlled.

I'm tired right now, but I'll try and be more descriptive tomorrow.

Art Audio always struck me as having a family sound that is a bit more linear and a bit more detailed on top (air) as compared to Cary. I love both though.

Yes, of course, Audiofeil, you are correct. It was a slip on my part. I realize the AA PX-25 has KR PX-25 tubes and not 300B! But it needed to be corrected, for which I thank you.

>>I know the AA PX-25 uses KR output 300Bs<<

Actually the Art Audio PX-25 uses KR PX-25 tubes not 300B. They are not interchangeable. Good luck.

This is exactly the choice I'm making right now, although I'm planning on matching whatever SET amp with a pair of Cain & Cain Super Abbys. I have an SLI-80 that I love and have preferred the lush, warm sound for most things, but have also tube-rolled the input (Siemens & Halske) and driver tubes (Sylvania 6SN7GTA and GTs, Tung-Sol roundplate) to create a more resolving sound, which works well with some choral and orchestral music I listen to (mainly, I listen to Renaissance choral, symphonic orchestral, and Romantic Italian opera).

Can anyone characterize the differences in these two SET amps and what their relative flexibilities might be re tube-rolling? I know the AA PX-25 uses KR output 300Bs, but I don't know how much the other tubes affect the sound. And I plan on using Western Electric 300B tubes with a Cary 300 SEI, if that becomes the choice. I assume I can play with the 6SN7 tubes it takes?

Finally, I have a Cary 303/300 which I understand can work very well with the AA PX-25 (becasue the 303/300 produces up to 3 v output via the RCA connections, it's feasible for the player to drive a power amp directly--the AA PX-25 has a .7v input sensitivity).

Can anyone elaborate on your assessment and knowledge of the differences between these two amps?

I don't know about use with phones, but, with speakers, the two are quite different in sound. The Cary is extremely warm and lush sounding. The PX-25 is much more neutral and nimble sounding. I really like the PX-25 on speakers much more, but again, it is a matter of taste and application.

How 'bout Cary 300SEI vs Art Audio Carissa?

I think you can split the diference sonically and have a bit more "drive" with a set of Audio note 300b monos. If you're just driving cans the Audio Note P3 or P3 Silver would be ideal.

The US importer for Audio Note uses AKG's I believe and he turned me on the the idea. I use the P3 Silvers as my main amp.