Cary 306 SACD

Yep,MSRP $6000 and I'm pretty sure the 306 SACD is a completely different animal from the standard 306's,so no upgradability.Gary.

the cary 306 sacd has been getting rave reviews on audio asylum

I have owned the 306/200 (was in my system for 2 years and loved it) the 303/300 and I have also owned both the Esoteric one box SACD and seperates, amongst other very expensive playback set-ups and I now have the Cary 306 SACD. In my system there is no question that the new 306 is really in another league. I cannot believe what Cary is providing at the price point with this player-simply outstanding! To answer your question regarding differences between the 303-300 and the 306, I could go into great detail here but won't. I will say that the differences are immediate and large between them. The 306 is the best digital I have ever had in my system, period. If interested you can see my system for reference in the inmates systems on Audio Asylum as well as more in depth info about the player in my posts there if interested.

My first discussion thread on the site!
I have had the 306 SACD for a couple of weeks now and warming up nicely. However, when I switch between redbook, HDCD and SACD during the same listening sessions, the machine just locks up (particularly on SACD discs after playing redbook) and cannot read the disc. I have to either switch off and reboot so to speak or pull out the mains socket and plug back in. The dealer said that if the machine does not have ventilation it will do this as another customer, I was told, had the same problem. I think I have enough space on the rack at the sides for ventilation.

Can any new owner explain this and any way to rectify the problem as its a pain switching on and off.

Hi, I've had the 306 SACD for a couple weeks now and have not experienced this problem. My rack is fairly well ventilated, but I doubt that would really be a culprit. Is your player hot to the touch? Mine runs luke warm.

As for music making, it is in another league from the Cary 303-300 and the 306-200. Red book CD playback is amazing and SACD blows my socks off.

The sounds is liquid, with the swell and flow of live music. The bass end is sub-terranean and the high frequencies are smooth and extended. Really incredible to hear this level of performance.

The sound stage has opened up with break-in. It is as high, wide and deep as my analog playback.

All the audiophile attributes aside, it is a joy to listen to the 306-SACD.