Justin & Jerry's Hifi Blog

[Spectral Morn]

Time for an update ....

The Martin Logan CLSiiz stats are gone and I've some noo babes who sing just for me ....



Leema Xaviers. I think of them as a 'grown up' Audio Physic Virgo II.

Actually, I play them with grille covers on ... unusually, they sound better that way, to me.

The Bel Canto eVo4 amp is temporarily retired, and here are my new amplification loves ....







Cary 572-3 single ended monoblocks.

And very nice indeed they sound together.

Oh, and while I'm mentioning these updates to my system, I should also say that a Melos PS-1 valve phonostage should be shipping Jerry-wards tomorrow!

Hi Jerry


Those Cary amps look very nice....very nice indeed. Nice find.


Regards D S D L

[jandl100]

What's the output?

According to Stereophile tests it's 15W at 1% distortion, 20W at 3%.
Although that was for the original, mines a mark X, where X is a number >1!

[Ali Tait]

Plenty for most speakers then!

[jandl100]

Yep, the Carys easily drive my Leema speakers as loud as I wish & under good control.

As delivered, the Cary's had a very fast, open sound that was a bit forward and relentless in character. Great fun and very impressive, but quite difficult to relax with over the longer haul. Changing the JAN Philips 6sn7 tubes that they came with for some interesting (& cheap!) Soviet tubes (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...lenotsupported) altered that though. These are said to be an RCA knock-off, and they sound much sweeter and more musical in the Carys. I've also bought some genuine RCA 6SN7s from the US which should be on their way to me by now (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...lenotsupported).

Yesterday, I also changed the JAN Philips 5U4GB rectifier tubes for some GEC U52's from Langrex (http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.d...lenotsupported). In the eBay auction info they said they are Japanese-made GEC, but the printing on the valves says made in England. This was less of a dramatic change than with the 6SN7 swap, but a bit more of a natural 3D soundstage and slightly warmer tonal colouring.

The Carys are now singing very sweetly and musically, but with plenty of presence, palpability, drive and energy.

The other input tube is an unbranded 6DN7 - I can't find out much about these - anyone have any info or any ideas for tube rolling?

[Mike]

The other input tube is an unbranded 6DN7 - I can't find out much about these - anyone have any info or any ideas for tube rolling?

It's a TV tube with not too many equivalents, there's a bit of info HERE

[Marco]

Nice one, Jerry

I very nearly bought some Cary amps myself at the beginning of my journey into valves, so I've always rated them.

Glad they're doin' the biz for ya!

Marco.

[jandl100]

It's a TV tube with not too many equivalents, there's a bit of info HERE

Thanks Mike. A bit too techie for me, though!

There's some interesting opinions on the 6DN7 valve here http://db.audioasylum.com/cgi/m.mpl?...ght=Jabberwock but the concensus seems to be that there isn't much diff in sound between any of the brands.

There's some Tung-Sol ones on eBay.com that I'll probably have a bid on just to hear for myself.

It's curious that Cary changed from the original amp design which used two 6SN7 to one that used one 6SN7 and one 6DN7.

[jandl100]

A problem? ....

One of the power tubes has developed a small (1cm) silver/brown spot, the other tube has the faint outline of a similar spot. What's going on? Is this something to be concerned about?

I've noticed these silver areas on other tubes, but these seem to have just developed .... I think!

[Mike]

Hi Jerry,

I'm not sure which bit you mean... is it this bit?

[jandl100]

Yes, looks like a brown spot on the photo, lower left. Sans camera flash, it looks silvery.