2. amps-preamps
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Primaluna EVO 300 or Carey 120S MKII?

My used Pass Labs X250 just fried. I bought it at a decent price and sent it back to Pass for repair. But at this point, I’m thinking about getting something new and selling the Pass when it comes back. Warranty and all that...

Which brings me to my question. I’m looking at the Carey 120S and the Primaluna EVO (or the legacy Dialogue Premium HP). I have a Carey SLP-05 preamp with PS Audio PerfectWave dac and transporter, plus the PS Audio Powerplant. They’re all moving through GoldenEar Triton 1 reference speakers with the powered subwoofer.  I’ve heard good things about the Primaluna. Does anyone have any experience with the Carey 120S? Which would be the best match for the system? Also, would the EVO 300 be sufficient to drive the Tritons? 
tammanyman
three_easy_payments's avatar
three_easy_payments
2,097 posts
 
I have a Cary CAD120S MKII and find it quite musical paired with Spendor D7s.  As jp mentioned above, the Cary amp would be a perfect match with the SLP-05.  Both fully differentially balanced with impedance and gain paired well.  I'm using a VAC preamp with mine which is also balanced from input to output.  The only amplifier I'd trade the Cary out for is a VAC.

Here's a link to a review from last year you may be interested in.

https://www.stereo.net.au/reviews/review-cary-audio-slp-05-preamplifier-cad-120s-mkii-power-amplifier
lwin's avatar
lwin
566 posts
 
I  cannot comment on the Prima Luna but I had the Cary 120 which replaced a pair of Krell 250MC . Musically the Cary had it all over the Krells. I paired it with the Cary SLP-05 preamp which I still have. I would go with the system synergy as other responders have suggested.
tammanyman OP
5 posts
 
Thank you all for the feedback. It pretty much confirms my initial reaction, i.e., to match the two Carey units. I like the idea of "system synergy." Plus, Carey will give me about $1200 or so for my Pass (once it's fixed) so that will help.
mplstereo's avatar
mplstereo
29 posts
 
Tammanyman 

What happend, exactly, to the Pass?  

Just curuious
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