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Amp/Preamp Asylum: REVIEW: Cary Audio Design Cinema 11 Preamplifier (HT) by Scooter11

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REVIEW: Cary Audio Design Cinema 11 Preamplifier (HT)

66.76.55.24


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Model: Cinema 11
Category: Preamplifier (HT)
Suggested Retail Price: $3000
Description: preamp processor
Manufacturer URL: Cary Audio Design

Review by Scooter11 on July 01, 2010 at 13:36:49
IP Address: 66.76.55.24
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for the Cinema 11


Really pretty. Just screams "high end" from the first crack out of the big double box. Low, wide and heavy. Nice remote and all the features you could ask for. Seven XLR outs, digital inputs until next Tuesday, easy set-up, just like it should be for this price. You'll be super excited at first. You'll want to break out a turtleneck sweater and a glass of pinot, put on some jazz and invite some friends over.

Then reality will start to creep in after a few months. Strange things will start to happen. You might get a volume spike that you fear has damaged your speakers. You might start getting strange (and very loud) popping sounds when switching between sources. You might wonder why the volume knob doesn't work anymore. You'll call Cary and they will politely give you a return authorization number and tell you to be sure to send it back - insured. Listen hard for a person in the background saying quietly "is that another C11 coming back?"

Reality time. The C11 and C11a both have serious problems with the D/A converters and digital switching and Cary Audio Design service department denies the problems exist and will simply send it back to you with a report that says all is well - when it's clearly not. So don't bother with trying to have it repaired. Assume there is no warranty.

I guess the Cary service department is just locking themselves in the closet when one comes in for repair. They close their eyes real tight hoping it will all just go away.

In the mean time, you the customer, have just dropped some serious coin on a pre/pro that will fail occasionally and you can't get anything other than lip service from the distributor’s tech. I say distributor and not manufacturer, because the Cary Audio Design Cinema lines are not made in the US. It's "assembled" in Korea and designed and engineered in Korea. Not knocking the Koreans because they make some great stuff - but just not this time.

The sound quality in 2ch analog mode is absolutely without sonic influence. Dead neutral. Perfect. May as well have your source plugged straight into the amp. In fact that's what I would do instead of buying this pre/pro.




Product Weakness: it doesn't work
Product Strengths: looks like serious gear


Associated Equipment for this Review:

Amplifier: nothing
Preamplifier (or None if Integrated): none
Sources (CDP/Turntable): none
Speakers: none
Cables/Interconnects: none
Music Used (Genre/Selections): all
Room Size (LxWxH): 16 x 15 x 8
Type of Audition/Review: Product Owner




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Topic - REVIEW: Cary Audio Design Cinema 11 Preamplifier (HT) - Scooter11 13:36:49 07/1/10 ( 2)