Cary Audio CAD-300SEI
ABOUT THE CAD-300SEI INTEGRATED AMPLIFIER
Tube aficionados have long known that the best possible realism and detail comes when an amplifier is run in SET mode, or Single-Ended Triode. This lets one power tube handle both sides of each musical waveform, eliminating some of the most fatiguing distortions. It results in lower output power, naturally, but with high-efficiency speakers played at reasonable levels, its ultimate simplicity means the ultimate in musical naturalness.
While only offering 15 watts per channel of pure class-A remote-controlled power, the CAD-300SEI does things that almost no other amplifier today can achieve. Its careful attention to design and construction means that it is extremely quiet, allowing the tiniest musical details to float against a background of dead silence. This will help you perceive more accurate soundstaging and imaging cues, as well as the most realistic harmonic structure of each instrument. You can tell a Steinway from a Bösendorfer piano, a Stradivarius from a Guarneri or Amati violin, or a Fender from a Gibson guitar. You’ll hear inner details of musical groups that you never knew were there. Sometimes the simplest IS the best, and the CAD-300SEI is a testament to that philosophy.
The following section describes the CAD-300SEI basic specifications. The specifications are subject to change without notice or obligation.
| Circuit Type | Single-Ended Class A |
| Power Output | 15 watts |
| Input Sensitivity | .42 Volt for full output |
| Noise and Hum | -90 dB below full output |
| Frequency Response | 20 Hz to 23 KHz +/- .75 dB |
| Inputs | CD, AUX1, AUX2, Headphone jack |
| Tubes | 1 ea – 6SN7 Input 2 ea – 6SN7 Driver 2 ea – 300B Output |
| Power Transformer | 1 ea – EI Laminate, 200% Duty Cycle |
| Output Transformer(s) | 2 ea – EI Laminate Air Gap, 200% Duty Cycle |
| Resistors | 1% Metal Film |
| Capacitors | Polypropylene Film with hand soldered copper terminals (optional upgrades available) |
| Power Supply Capacitors | 2 ea – 1200µF@250 VDC |
| AC Cord | 3 Conductor, Detachable |
| AC Power Requirements | 117/234 VAC @ 50/60 Hz |
| Consumption | 107 watts – Operation |
| Warm-Up Time | 3 Minutes |
| Break-In Time | 100 hours of playing time |
| Finish | Anthracite black chassis with silver or black aluminum faceplate |
| Weight | 51 lbs |
| Dimensions | 8″ H x 14″ W x 14″ D |
STANDARD FACTORY MODEL : price = 8.990€
WITH CUSTOM FACTORY UPGRADES : price = 9.680€
CAPACITORS
Looking for a really nice way to upgrade the sound of your amp or preamp? Upgrading the coupling capacitors will provide a sound quality improvement that is well worth the money. We offer three types of capacitor upgrades.
Mundorf MCap SUPREME EVO SilverGold Capacitors
The MCap SUPREME EVO SilverGold is the undisputed top capacitor from Mundorf. It combines the best of Mundorf’s technologies and over 30 years of experience in the manufacturing of audiophile masterpieces into a unique capacitor of equally unique musicality. Metallised polypropylene is used as the dielectric guaranteeing low tolerances and the highest standards of safety in use thanks to its self-healing properties. After going through Mundorf’s top quality winding process, the capacitor winding is potted by hand into aluminum tubes to minimize microphony. The gold plated, asymmetrical pure copper wires make it possible to assemble it in a classic horizontal style.
The Mundorf MCap SUPREME EVO SilverGold capacitors have a full, sweet sound quality yet also are more articulate and revealing of low level detail than other high-end audio capacitors. The mid and low-midrange areas have better definition as well as more weight and body revealing the true character of acoustic instruments. A stand-up bass completely comes to life. The texture of instruments and vocals are just more musical and involving. They also have the speed and detail desired to keep up with the fastest drum lines and sweet revealing highs for every bit of delicate reverberations and air. They just have more music!
Mundorf MCap EVO SilverGold Oil Capacitors
The MCap® EVO SilverGold.Oil was developed in 2012 to specifically create the powerful and finely nuanced acoustic colours that are typical to the SilverGold in as compact and cost-effective a format as possible. The large capacities created as a result also permit efficient use in high-quality midrange applications.
The self-healing PP capacitor film is impregnated with oil after the EVOLUTION winding process and potted by hand into special casings. Any impact on the audio signal caused my microphony is practically ruled out as a result.
HEXFRED RECTIFIERS
If you have not had it done to your favorite Cary Audio piece, the Hexfred option makes an awesome difference! Hexfreds are high speed low noise rectifiers and replace your existing standard rectifiers in the power supply. You will notice more speed, air, detail, imaging and tighter bass, yet a cleaner clearer sound quality. The Hexfreds help to provide a cleaner, faster DC voltage which shows up very noticeably in the sound quality. There is one more layer of hash and hardness (noise) that is removed so that you can just enjoy the music! Bass is faster with more details and the midrange and highs are cleaner and clearer. You will hear more detail with less bite.
GRAYHILL SELECTOR SWITCH
The Grayhill Selector Switch is a great way to update your input selector switch, and is designed to last the life of your equipment with its mil-spec standard. Its sealed enclosure with gold plated contacts allows for smooth action, long life, and excellent conduction. It will keep your unit sound and switching perfectly for years. Works in the SLP-98, SLI-80, CAD-300SEI, and many other Cary Audio preamplifiers and integrated amplifiers.
