Cary 303/300 and Bryston 14B ST

amdan · « **on:** 11 Dec 2005, 11:38 am »

Hi,

Can anybody tell me if the Cary 303/300 CDP will directly drive the Byrston 14B ST? The Cary has a volume control.
Please see
http://www.caryaudio.com/products/audio/cd303300.shtml
for the specifications on the Cary. Any help will be greatly appreciated.

bsmith15 · « **Reply #1 on:** 11 Dec 2005, 01:30 pm »

I was running my CDP direct to my 4B SST until I got my BP 20 pre. As long as the source has a volume control there should not be a problem.

amdan · « **Reply #2 on:** 11 Dec 2005, 10:17 pm »

Did it sound good without a pre-amp? I have seen comments that not having a pre-amp adversely affects the sound.
I thought the CDP output voltage had to match the amp (or some such thing.) I am not technically literate as far as electronics is concerned. I was hoping someone here might know (James?).
Thanks.

bsmith15 · « **Reply #3 on:** 11 Dec 2005, 10:45 pm »

I am not sure about output voltage; as you indicated someone with specific electronics knowledge is more qualified to answer. I just like the sound better with a pre in between; just my preference I guess. Plus I added a Polk XM receiver and wanted a phono stage in case I decide to go that route in the future. At that time I was using a Denon CD changer with volume control and a Shangling tubed CD and neither had any issues direct into the amp.

arthurs · « **Reply #4 on:** 11 Dec 2005, 11:08 pm »

I have the 303/300 and have driven my amps straight from it as well as with a pre. No trouble either way, but as previously stated it just sounds better to me with a pre....

James Tanner · « **Reply #5 on:** 13 Dec 2005, 01:05 am »

Quote from: amdan

Did it sound good without a pre-amp? I have seen comments that not having a pre-amp adversely affects the sound.
I thought the CDP output voltage had to match the amp (or some such thing.) I am not technically literate as far as electronics is concerned. I was hoping someone here might know (James?).
Thanks.

Hi amdan,

Most amplifiers need 1-2 volts to provide full output (depending on input sensitivity). A CD Player for instance is 2 volts out maximum. I have always found that I am positively 'seduced' at first when I run my CD player directly into my power amp. It sounds smooth and motherly.Over time though I realize it does not have the 'bite' of real sounds.

Therefore I agree that a quality preamp sounds more right to me. It may be that the preamp 'buffers' the input and loads the source component properly. Also Bryston preamps for instance have a 30 volt output capability and the extra 'headroom' may have serious advantages.

james

amdan · « **Reply #6 on:** 13 Dec 2005, 10:43 pm »

Thanks to everybody who posted. It looks like I will need a pre-amp.

James - Why don't Bryston pre-amps have the ability to select sources from the remote? This would be useful when evaluating cables. The Cary CDP has balanced and RCA outs. The source selector on my current amp's remote was invaluable in helping me decide to go with the balanced cables rather than my RCA cables.
My previous CDP had two sets of RCA outs making it easy to choose between two RCA interconnects.

James Tanner · « **Reply #7 on:** 14 Dec 2005, 12:34 am »

Hi John,

The new BP16 preamp has source select and 2 pairs of RCA out.

The BP26 has 1 pair of balanced out and 2 pairs of RCA.

Back when we designed the BP 25 and now the BP26 source select was a problem because other than motorized pots there were not any transparent systems available to switch sources so we decided to take a more purist approach and use the motorized pot on the volume control which we felt more customers would use.

james