reviews

This was a challenging review to write. Not for some of the reasons you might imagine: faulty equipment – none!, system changes – frequent but not the issue; available time to listen to the amplifier – always in too-short supply; etc., etc. No, the challenge was deciding if the review would have any value considering the “law” that would be broken in the process.

The Cary Audio DAC-200ts, $3995, replaces the well-received DAC-100 and DAC-100t digital to analog converters. Where the DAC-100 is all solid state, and the DAC-100t offers a vacuum tube output stage, the DAC-200ts includes both technologies and the user chooses between solid state or tube outputs with a push of a button.

The new Cary SA-200.2 solid-state stereo power amplifier does not build on the technology of the model 500MB which was reviewed here on 10 Audio in 2005. It is a new design that features modular construction.

This review is much more than the result of a number of listening sessions over a two year period. It is really the story of one person’s quest for the attainment of the goal of having exceptional music reproduction available at the turn of a dial and the drop of a needle.