Cary 805 C

hi sr65, these amps DO have magic.the midrange is incredible, the highs are great ,the only thing that can use improvement is the bass.im using the big MERLINS from six years ago,im thinking of getting the milleniums ,they will be a much better match..what speakers are you using?

I've been using the 805's for 2-1/2 years and have been very happy with them. I still think there one of the great amps out there. You can change the sound a bit by changing input tubes which can make it sound a little soft or not. I've read were others say there's no magic to the 805's. Are you listening to magic or music??? If you don't like what you hearing with these amps, then you've got problems further up the chain. These amps have wonderful highs,mids,and lows. They may not be the very best in all aspects of sound, but there pretty dam close. You can take that to the "bank"!!!!

I've not heard Merlins for maybe 10 yrs but I have read they have the qualities I mentioned. The 805s are great amps, I think you have a wide variety of choices. Too bad they're not easy to carry around from store to store!

hi tomryan, im thinking MERLIN MILLENIUM'S FOR THE CARYS.

Can't say I've heard the new version but did hear the "C" on a number of different speakers. The amp makes great music but can tend to the "soft" side. They put out 50wts which is enough to power most speakers, but I've heard them with Proac Response 2s (not 2.5s) and the overall sound was just too soft and undynamic. I would try the JM Lab Electra series which is about 90db and is a bit peaky in the high end and forward sounding but in a musical way, if you know what I mean. Might mate very well with the 805s. Look for a very well designed, neutral speaker that could sound forward or overly detailed with the wrong amp. I'd look for something with high freq. extension, good clarity and transparency, and quality parts, etc. Look for a stable, non-threatening impedance curve, also. Wildy swinging impendances can give this amp fits. The J. P. Reynaud speakers are supposed to be excellent and (I've heard the Twins) have the qualities mentioned above. The Reynaud Twins were very musical, however. Good luck, this is a great amp.