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REVIEW: Cary Audio Design PH301 Phono Preamp Review by Thomas at Audio Asylum

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In the search to upgrade from a Musical Fidelity X-LP, I had settled on the Lehmann Black Cube and the EAR 834P. Both have garnered rave reviews and I'd had the chance to audition both on friend's systems and my own. Then I saw the PH301 and thought it looked interesting but was way out of my price range until the dealer made me a good offer. So I decided to audition the unit further at home. To compare the PH301 to the X-LP would be a bit unfair and pointless as the Cary costs 7 times as much as the MF.
The Cary is a two box unit with a separate substantial power supply connected by a DIN umbilical cord. The power supply has a removable power cord and both units are ruggedly constructed to very high standards. You can obtain more detail from here: http://www.caryaudio.com/ph301.html.
Upon powering up the unit, I noticed a very slight hum coming from the power supply, inaudible from 3 feet away. I haven't checked with Cary regarding the issue but will pursue it shortly. The unit was a dealer demo and was well broken in so I let it, along with the rest of the components warm up for an hour before auditioning.
The first impression is one of space and realism. In a far from ideal room, the Cary managed to push back the too close right and rear walls while lifting well above the severly slanted ceiling. The soundstage isn't of the pinpoint type with all instruments and players nailed in place. Rather, it's a very musical, relaxed presentation that's intoxicating to the extreme. You can easily close your eyes and be transported to a different locale. The background is dead black allowing every detail and nuance to be effortlessly presented. I mentioned the realism..on a particularly quiet passage in a Japanese pressing of Roxy Music's Avalon, Bryan Ferry breathed to deliver the next line which made my girlfriend and I jump out of our skins! Another poster had mentioned "Sound so accurate, you can hear the chest hair of Robert Plant sweating..), well, we definately knew what Bryan had for lunch!
The PH301 delivered extended dynamics with tightly controlled bass when called upon and never stumbled through the most difficult passages. The delicate notes are reproduced with the utmost gentleness. It's equally at home with classical, jazz or rock but its luxurious nature makes it a natural for well recorded jazz or classical material. Of course nothing's perfect and if I had to nitpick, I'd say that the unit may sound a trifle polite in some laid back systems. In simplest terms, it's similar to the EAR 834P but with more of the goods. We tried the system in a friend's system with the Clearaudio Signature LO/MC cartridge and found the MC stage to perform as well with no additional grain or harshness.
I'll be keeping the unit and I can't wait to see what else can be brought out by tube rolling.

Enjoy,

Thomas


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Topic - REVIEW: Cary Audio Design PH301 Phono Preamp Review by Thomas at Audio Asylum - Thomas 23:50:49 06/15/99 ( 2)