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Personal experience with Cary gear and...

I am looking for speakers to audition. I own an all Cary system, 306 CD player, SLP 2002 pre-amp, and CAD 808 (Rocket 88) amp. The amp is 20/wpc in triode mode. I have heard the B&W Nautilus line with this setup and the sound is very good. Much smoother and more refined than my current Matrix 802 II's. I am looking though for comments from those with first hand experience with other speakers and Cary equipment. I do not need to listen at very loud levels, and prefer mostly jazz, blues, vocals, some classical. My room is 20 x 13 with ten foot ceilings, but it adjoins other living areas in the house. The speakers are set up on the long wall, with about 2-3 feet behind them, and about 2 feet behind my chair, which leaves me about seven or eight feet from the front of the speakers. I prefer a full-range speaker, and do not wish to get involved with subs. I am looking to spend up to around $ 3,000 used. My primary concerns are warmth and musicality in the midrange and high frequencies (accurate reproduction of piano, female voice, saxophones, violins in particular, but would prefer "laid back" to "highly detailed, etched"). I could live without the extreme low frequencies, as I was OK with the bass I got from the 802 (around 30 Hz without the filter?)
but again don't know if I could live with a monitor.

I am presently considering offerings from Meadowlark, Soliloquy, Silverline, Dunlavy, B&W, Totem, Merlin, Vienna acoustic. I am open to all suggestions but please remember, in the context of Cary tube gear. Thanks in advance for your consideration.
mike7142
8 responses Add your response
tweed
25 posts
 
Soliloquy 6.3 - the original Soliloquy was designed
by Dennis Had - the current product line up sound beautiful
with tubes.

John.
mike7142 OP
23 posts
 
Dennis at Cary actually demo's his equipment using Nautilus speakers, and has done so both with a single Rocket 88 amp and with a vertical bi-amp configuration. I personally heard the Nautilus 800, 803, and 805's driven in this manner and the sound is quite remarkable. I just wonder if I could get sound as good or better for less money. This brings me to the coincident and Merlin suggestions. I looked at the prices for the various 'eclipse' models and found them to be significantly more than $ 3,000 used. Even the Merlins were well above that price. Re: Red Rose, interesting looking design considering the tweeter, but what about lack of bass and integration of dynamic speaker with planar? I also plan to give Meadowlarks a second chance, I heard them with a CJ integrated and they sounded poor, thin bass and overall uninvolving. Never heard of Triangle, but will look for them, and would also like to try soliloquy and silverline.

Thanks so far for all your help, and keep it coming.

Mike
steveaudio
331 posts
 
I'm just curious, how are you powering B&W M802's w/a 20wpc amp?? They like lots of power, as do all B&W Nautilus speakers. I would definitely check out Merlins, they are a lot more efficient & like tubes, but I'd call Merlin to discuss your set-up first.
asa
662 posts
 
I own 805B's. I'd seriously look at the Coincident speaker line also. Very drivable by Triodes.
abstract7
541 posts
 
I have a pair of Cary 40M signature monoblocks. I've used them with a few small speakers. My current favorite is the Red Rose R3. This speaker does really well with Cary tubes.
midesco
2 posts
 
I have a Cary 2A3SI integrated (15 Wpc). I have similar listening habits and room size. I have just purchased the Triangle Celius ($2K new), and am still breaking them in. However, they meet all of your requirments. You don't get booming base, but piano, female vocal, etc. are just luscious.

Another one that I demo'd but did not buy was a used paid of Silverline Sonatinas. They are very good as well, and the burlwood finish is quite striking. Somewhat bigger, so may not fit into the space (that's why I passed).
findoc
35 posts
 
Cary works very nice with Meadowlarks and Soliloquys....
jg47
24 posts
 
I have the Cary 808 & 303/200 with Audio Physic Spark 3's in a much smaller room(14x15).It sounds great with the Cary gear.For your room i'd suggest the Audio Physic Virgos.They like tubes and are even more efficent than the Sparks.
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