High Performance Audio, CEDIA 2011—Part 1

Posted by: Chris Martens at 3:03 pm, September 13th, 2011

The 551R is a slim-line 7.1-channel AVR that provides 7 x 110 watts per channel. When you first see the unit, its compact dimensions might lead you to think that class D amplifiers are in use, but this isn’t the case. Instead, the 551 R uses class A/B circuitry backed by a beefy toroidal transformer-equipped power supply and Cambridge’s signature X-TRACT cooling tunnel system. Price: projected MSRP is $1299.

Cary Audio

www.caryaudio.com

Cary Audio announced a handful of new models at CEDIA, including the firm’s new Cinema 12 third-generation surround-sound processor, plus the SA-500.1 and SA-200.2 solid-state power amplifiers.

The Cinema 12 features fully balanced circuitry and the latest generation of HDMI inputs. The unit also uses 32-bit/192 kHz DACs and surround chips—a design choice said to dramatically lower the unit’s noise floor. The power supply is heavily regulated, again to help drop the noise floor. Price: $4995.

There is also a matching Cinema 11V companion video switcher, which provides “six of every flavor of video input” with elaborate (commercial grade) switching capabilities. Price: $3995.

Though it might not seem so at first, the SA-500.1 monoblock amplifier and SA-200.2 stereo amplifier—both solid-state designs—are modular amplifiers that, beneath the hood, share a common design. By changing input modules and output panels, it is possible to convert an SA-200.2 into an SA-500.1 (or vice versa).

The SA-500.1 puts out 500 watts at 8 Ohms, 1000 watts at 4 Ohms, and has, says Cary’s Tony Weber, “about 3 dB of headroom beyond that, so that it puts out virtually unlimited power.” The SA-200.2, in turn, puts out 2 x 200 watts/channel at 8 Ohms. Prices: $4995 (SA-500.1), or $3995 (SA-200.2).

Finally, Cary announced some running improvements to its MS-1 music server, dramatically increasing the unit’s overall playback functionality, especially in terms of opening up options for streaming audio.