Glenn Young from Secrets of Home Theater and High Fidelity reviews the SI-300.2d integrated amplifier!
“By any consideration, the SI-300.2d is a smashing success. It’s the best integrated amp that I’ve heard.”
“The Cary [SI-300.2d] does bring sound-staging and dynamics that are quite tube-like.”
“The integrated amplifier section is FAR more robust than many preamp/power-amp combinations. The separates not only cost more, but also lack (in many cases) the low-impedance stability that the SI-300.2d exhibits.”
“Unlike many high-end DACs that have only one voice, the Cary’s DAC can be tweaked (and from the listening position by remote control) until you find the best match for your system.”
“It also bears mentioning that the SI-300.2d successfully drove Martin Logan hybrid electrostatic speakers. These speakers have a 20kHz impedance of only 0.6 ohms. Despite this, it never became exceptionally hot, shut itself down or hiccuped. Another power amplifier blew its output devices when hooked up to the speakers, but the Cary remained unflappable.”
“But think of what the Cary Audio SI-300.2d does that those other components can’t:
- It has much of the soundstage and dynamic capabilities of tube componentry
- It has proven itself to be bulletproof when driving difficult loads
- It is the best-sounding integrated amplifier that I’ve yet heard
- It has a DAC that could easily cost more than the entire price of this integrated amp”