Anyone ever try this tube integrated out or listened to it?

Evrythngmatters
Evrythngmatters Posts: 187
edited June 2011 in 2 Channel Audio
Ever since this thread http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?p=1596738#post1596738 was posted I have been looking for a better tube integrated. I came across a Cary Xciter integrated today for $1900.00 and was wondering if anyone here has any experience with one? I got to listen to it for about a half hour or so and really liked it. I am hesitant to pull the trigger though as it is only 5 wpc. I know watts don't really matter but when I think about just 5 wpc I begin to sweat. An integrated to jump on or should I keep waiting?
Everything matters. That is all.
Money cannot buy happiness, but it sure can buy a bad **** boat to pull up along side it though.
Post edited by Evrythngmatters on
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,804
    edited June 2011
    Watts matter a lot if one's speakers are insensitive and/or (depending on the amp's design) a difficult load (complicated impedance curve). My main amplifier is 3.5 watts per channel (single-ended 2A3) but the speakers are appropriate for it and vice versa.

    newamp.jpg
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  • Evrythngmatters
    Evrythngmatters Posts: 187
    edited June 2011
    Thanks for that insight and the pic. Sweet looking amp you have there. Right now I am just using some inexpensive ADS L300c and ADS 710 speakers. I have a few other pairs as well like some Polk monitor 7 and some B&W CDM1SE. The little Fatman clone I have now drives everything just fine (at normal listening levels-B&W are the hardest to drive btw) but I want to step up my audio game a little. I have some more tubes on the way to try out in this little hybrid due to Heiney9. I have some Mullards in there now and really like the sound.
    Everything matters. That is all.
    Money cannot buy happiness, but it sure can buy a bad **** boat to pull up along side it though.
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  • mhardy6647
    mhardy6647 Posts: 33,804
    edited June 2011
    The ads L-710 (superb, well-balanced and easy to listen to loudspeakers IMNSHO), despite being sealed boxes of the old school are surprisingly sensitive. I found them to work very well with push-pull EL84 amplifiers (12-ish watts per channel). 5 wpc would be borderline for them, but might work depending upon the size of your listening space, your taste in music, and how loud you like to listen.

    FWIW, I haven't been too pleased with any of vacuum tube amps I've tried with my Monitor 7As... but I really haven't played around with the 7As and tubes very systematically. Minimal experience with any B&W speakers; not my cup of tea, you see.

    free tip: A powered subwoofer can be the great equalizer when working with fleapowered amps :-)

    P1020547.jpg
    One of my L-710s. Picked these up from the "Yankee swap pile" at our town dump ("transfer station") - one of my better scavenges :-)
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