Digital turns the corner
After many years of thinking maybe I should have kept the records, the painful decision has been justified.
I have had a great server for many years, but always felt I was missing something with the depths of the sound, could it be the soul missing somehow. I have worked within the recording end of music industry since 17, so I know that live music and recorded has always had a difference, no matter how much vinyl addicts may argue this.
I've always, from the start of CD's thought they were heartless and was not surprised that 20 years on other came to that realisation, but at the time I was going through a classical music fascination and needed to lose crackles and pops, so I bought a CD player.
I'd obviously kept the turntable. But when servers came along I eventually thought I'll put all of my collection onto high res hard drives. I'll have more room with no loss. Idiot, I did miss the sound until now.
As I say I did have a darn good server, but I did have some issues with it, so I'll buy a better one and so I came across the Cary dms700, thanks to Gary. Well done to him, this unit has honestly changed my musical life, as I am now well retired from my musical life, but this has brought it all back.
Suddenly I'm no longer listen to my HiFi but to music. The Cary just screams music, it has total control over the soundstage with instrument separation of genuine sounding instruments, everything is so realistic without being heartless, this is music playing through my speakers.
There is even a warmth here that any digital unit I've tried was missing.
I have not tried the Pre-amp side of the unit so Gary will have to give you the information on this. But as a digital sauce I'm sure you will never regret purchasing this wonderful unit, the versatility within the DAC can leave you playing around a little too much because of its amazing effects on the sound, but once the kid in you has been satisfied the music will just flow, and you'll find yourself saying that HiFi sentence of "I've never heard that before"
Robin Boyes | Lydney | July 2022
As an audiophile you want to make sure you are not left behind. Who should you look to for great quality today and flexibility tomorrow? One company to have high on your list is Cary Audio. Cary has been producing high quality audio gear from the beginning.
Cary is certainly on the cutting edge of digital, the company is also masters of the analogue game.
Cary knows how to design toward that elusive analogue sound so may seek even when playing through their digital gear.
This unit was offering up a state-of-the-art combination of technologies...allowing the up-to-date audiophile as many ways to access, render, and stream 16/44 and high-res files any way they chose to. Nice!
The DMS-700 uses the AK4499EQ flagship current driven switched resistor DAC chip from AKM.
Cary takes full control of the chip by pairing it with an FPGA and full-on analogue circuit and massive power supplies to bring that signature Cary Audio sound to the fore.
"As important as the DAC chips themselves are, it's the designed pre and post DAC chip that gives our Cary Audio DMS products their famous signature sound."
...a sense of dimension that offers up a feeling of analogue...timing is lifelike.
...a great sound. Full of great depth and space...the DMS-700 is also a DAC and an incredible upscaling DAC at that.
Cary Audio has spent years working on taking the chunkiness...out of upsampling via their Trubit DSD & PCM upscaling and PCM to DSD conversion process. A 16/44 PCM file can be upsampled to 32/384 or was using the remote to go step through ten levels of upsampling with PCM files.
...it will all flow in a very natural way through the DMS-700...This control and flexibility to a high standard.
Bluetooth connectivity was also easy.
Seventeen minutes of fun later it was obvious the Cary was right at home with Bluetooth as one of its many sources. Sonics were full...I was rewarded with Leonard's deep gravelly voice being offered up from between the bass guitar and piano. I upscaled the native 16/44 FLAC to 24/176.4 via Trubit and the fit was wonderful.
The sense of room space was very lifelike.
The presentation had depth and positioning that suggested an intimate club atmosphere.
I was struck by the exceptional clarity of Andy Summers chime like guitar chord progressions. There was nothing hard. Clean and precise they floated between Stong's roving bass line and the ultra-precise drum work of Stewart Copeland...the DMS-700 conveyed the depth and space of this song's lesser played version with great definition. The front and centre bass line had a life like timbre.
The rasp of the upright bass and the incredible realism of the backup singers was spot on...terrific soul and clarity. The DMS-700 delivers. Regardless of how a file was delivered to the DMS-700 it was treated with care and delivered to your ears as you would want.
The good news is the Cary Audio DMS-700 delivers. Not just in the expected sound quality, which is exceptional, but in its execution of its tasks. This is a very well thought out unit. Software works both in process as well as in elegant function. It is easy to get around despite a diverse selection of tasks to address. Upgrades will keep it relevant for years and are made in a direct and simple way by an easy-to-use app.
What is not to like?
They have an expertise in analogue to pass that DNA through their digital children. This device is the best of both worlds. An audition is suggested with one caveat; Make sure you have funds in your checkbook before you bring it home.
Hi-Fi+ | | August 2021
