Power Amp choices

jimbones

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Sep 1, 2018
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Looking at tube power amps and I see Carver 275, McIntosh 275, Cary CAD120S Mk2. Are these all about equal in sonics or is one head and shoulders above the rest?
 

Addicted to hifi

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Looking at tube power amps and I see Carver 275, McIntosh 275, Cary CAD120S Mk2. Are these all about equal in sonics or is one head and shoulders above the rest?
Mcintosh is above all you have mentioned.stunning sound and looks and being in business since 1949. they are world leaders in hifi.
 

jimbones

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Sep 1, 2018
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I always pictured Mc as mid-fi. Though the 275 is given a class A rating in Stereophile(?)

BTW, I am open to other manufacturers my budget is 5k and I can go used.
 

jimbones

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Sep 1, 2018
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An-Thrax lol, i will look it up
 

DeadWax

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Apr 11, 2020
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I can't comment on the other two amps but years ago I had the Cary 120 MKII and felt it was rolled off in the bass and not terribly dynamic.
 
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TDX

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Jan 14, 2020
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I always pictured Mc as mid-fi. Though the 275 is given a class A rating in Stereophile(?)

BTW, I am open to other manufacturers my budget is 5k and I can go used.
Midfi is a complement.
 

TDX

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Jan 14, 2020
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Looking at tube power amps and I see Carver 275, McIntosh 275, Cary CAD120S Mk2. Are these all about equal in sonics or is one head and shoulders above the rest?
I had cary cad 120 before. They were ok. I used it to drive focal floor standing and it’s failed. Sounds thin, no bass and missed a lot of details. Obviously it doesn’t mean cary is worse than the rest of your listed amp, I just didn’t have experience with the rest. Agree with others you should look at thryax.
 

Addicted to hifi

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The new mcintosh c53 preamp that got reviewed by tas was rated one of the best preamps available at any price.mcintosh is also well priced and a bargain to most other brands.
 

DeadWax

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Apr 11, 2020
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@jimbones What speakers are you running?
 

jimbones

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Sep 1, 2018
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@DeadWax I use my own designed and built speakers 2 MW16P and 1 TW29R by Satori. They are about 89/90 db efficient
 

jimbones

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Sep 1, 2018
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Really want 100 wpc. Thinking KT88 based. I dont have $30K so forget the crazy expensive brands.
 

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