Cary Audio SLP-70

- Power Capacitance mod w/ ELNA and SOLEN BANK

- Outboard Power Supply

- TKD Stepped Attenuator

- MIT RTX caps throughout

- Kimber silver wired

- Kimber silver jacks

- Removed balance

- Silver switches - Holco resistors

- NOS RCA RED BASE 5691/5692

- Telefunken 12AX7 in phono

Sounds ultra clean and quiet with great dynamics and amazing transparancy while still retaining the all important musicality. Head and shoulders above Stock unit. This actual unit was used to audition the original Cary 300se Monoblocks back in 89-90 by Cary Audio Design.

This is an amazing sounding unit and extremely transparent but needs short, simple interconnects to amp. Moondog is on the sensitive side so is good match. Some might feel it sacrifices a bit of body for the transparency and they might have a point - But when you have a good source in your CD Player in that it has a robust, stiff, power suppy, and can put out a minimum of 2V, combined with a senitive amplifier, the passive can work wonders. The little Creek OBH-12 is a bit more transparent than the Cary as well as a slightly lower noise floor. I think the passive preamp is a great way to get high performance on the cheap, however, I ultimately believe a high quality active tube preamplifier to be the best solution for the increased drive, dynamics, and warmth, especially if going with 2A3 SET.

These speakers have been a near revelation; At this stage, I know of no better bargain nor soulful device! These '77 Cornwalls employ Alnico magnets with the horn drivers. These are some of the most musical speakers I have ever had the pleasure of using in my home. They possess a certain magic and soul that is very rare in the speaker marketplace. No, it is not perfect, but even given its faults, I am just completely amazed at the quality and naturalness I am getting from these vintage speakers with my Linn, Cary, Moondogs, and DIYCable wire. They sound is so big and bold, with a immediacy and life that is very beguiling. I am working on a full review of these speakers. As of now, I can say these speakers have brought my system to the next level of musicalty and realness.

Rega Planet

Just one of the most musical players out there; deserves all the hype. Unfortunately, I do believe one of the problems with this player is the inordinate breakin time and the variability between models. I have had two Planets in my home for extended times and they really sounded different, even on the same system. I think this might account with some of the differing opinions on this player. Also, some people are quite used to the hyped up detail of other, lessor machines. Not quite the ultimate detail of some 24bit units but more musical than many of those machines, which have less body to my ears. I almost prefer the sound of a proper 18-20 bit machine to a cheaper 24bit. It does not always pay to upgrade.

Tries to mimic life