PS Audio vs. Cary

What are your plans for interconnects, speaker wire, source, ect? Cary products have served me well. I have not had one reliability problem and the tubes last forever. Have you considered an integrated amp like the SLI80? This would save you the price of one set of interconnects and the amp gets rave reviews on Agon. IMO, it will take a complete package to get the sound you want. The front end affects the final result. Take your time and listen to all you can before you take the plunge.
Good luck!

I have owned both. 2 HCA2s & 1 PCA2 the PCA2 is a great preamp for the $$ I still have it. The amp is just ok I had to tried it twice to figure that out. As for Cary the rocket 88 is pretty good had one for 2 years. If you can swing it a ARC 150.2 is a Great amp for $$. I have a ARC 150M & it is world class. It is the Best SS amp I have had the plesure of owning.

I started out with Chorus floorstanders and then upgraded to Cobalt 816s a few years later. Very happy with them, and of course the Electras sound even better. If you like the Chorus then you might want to consider the Cobalts when you eventually upgrade. I'm a big fan of the JMLab sound.

Anyhow, as for what electronics to use, I'd probably favor the Cary even though I haven't heard it. Since the JMLabs are on the lean side they pair very well with tube gear in my experience. I'm using a Conrad Johnson PV-10B pre with a B&K ST125.2 amp and I'm very pleased with the results. At about $500-600 used, I'd consider the PV-10B a bargain and definitely a very good match for your speakers.

Just to throw it out there, the Audio Refinement integrated amp sounds great with the Chorus and Cobalt. Its amazingly smooth for solid state and even though its only 50 watts it will drive the speakers very, very loud. It's a real giant killer. You can get it used for around $500. I don't know what your budget is, but buying an Audio Refinement integrated and then putting the rest of the money into a cdp or saving it for an eventual speaker upgrade could be something to consider.

I have a Rocket which I really like. I agree Arcam is great, but it's solid state - Cary makes a CD/DAC that is twice the price and probably worth it if you aren't a vinyl guy, plus it's got 12AX7's and capacitors on the output. But you could get a Bel Canto DAC2 for $1200. or the DAC1 for about $500. on 'gon that would be (about) as good. I also like the fact that Cary amps/pre's are point to point, no circuit boards at all. Big difference to the ears, much more linear sounding, and has to be done right. Otherwise you get large variances between individual pieces that should be the same. The Rocket can be had for about a thousand bucks here on the 'gon if you don't mind rolling tubes and upgrading capacitors as needed, and $1000. is hard to beat. I agree the SLI-80 is a good choice as well especially if you might run an outboard DAC with more than one input on it, or a multi-in step-up like an EAR MC3 or 4, since the SLI-80 only has 3 inputs. However, you do get a headphone jack and a remote. Also you get the extra reach of the KT88's. If you don't care about KT88 beefy-ness and if you're worried about bright - what about a Manley Stingray? It has tiny runs of wire and bulletproof EL34's. Both the Manley and the Cary would mate well with almost any speaker. If $2200.-$2400. is too steep, Wright Sound makes great stuff, and if you suddenly get rich you could have two or three different amps using the George Wright stuff that wouldn't look as snazzy but would be quality.

Another vote for Cary Audio ANYTHING. I use all Cary gear for my Home Theater electronics which sounded so good with music that became my full time 2 channel rig as well.