Cary/Triad magic system

by rhljazz on Secondary Rigs

Description

This is my reference system because it sounds fantastic and I never change it. The Cary was purchased in 1996 and replaced a Pioneer receiver which sounded very Ho Hum. It was instant magic and any attempt to upgrade power cords, power conditioners, interconnects, speaker wire has resulted in worse sound. So, I leave it alone.

The only changes over this time period were a new TV, custom cabinet (which sounded a bit better) and new carpet.

The system has a certain zip to it that is addictive. The room is 10x14 and bass is -3db at 31hz so it fills the room. Overall frequency balance is excellent.
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Components Toggle details

    • Cary Audio Design SLI-50
    pure class A integrated outputting 30 watts per channel with E34L JJ output tubes
    • Triad Design System 3
    3 piece satellite system, 2 way sealed box monitors, time aligned, 89db efficient, 70 watt sealed box woofer
    • Sony 608esd
    1989 vintage cd player, 2nd from top of the line, ladder DAC, still sounds great, flawless reliability
    • Yamaha T-760
    vintage tuner, sounds OK
    • Chicago stands unknown
    all steel, spiked top and bottom, not filled
    • Sony Came in the box
    nothing impressive to look at, sound better in this application than the expensive ones
    • Radio Shack 16g
    el cheapo copper wire, about 5 strands per leg, unterminated
    • Michael Green Room Tunes
    panels with absorbtive side out directly behind the speakers in the frt corners (the only room treatment used)

Comments 3

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Very nice system. Cary does make great sounding gear. I've owned some Cary and AES (sister co.) over the years.

You may also consider Kimber Kable interconnects and speaker wire. Cary uses Kimber internal wiring on there amps. When I visited Cary about 6 years ago they used all Kimber in their show room. Food for thought.

When you say Chicago speaker stands is it because you bought them in Chicago. They look like Linn speaker stands, and there was a Linn dealer on Clark St. that they may have come from.

mjcmt

Owner
The speaker grille has a cut out baffle for control of tweeter dispersion so placement close to the sidewall is not a problem. I'll post a photo of the speakers with the grilles removed. The frequency balance is close to perfect, both by ear and db/test recording measurements.

rhljazz

Love the 'giant killer' unassuming systems. Prob helps that the room is small and intimate. Any difference pulling the speaks away from the wall?

tholt

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