Cary Audio Design
 | |
| Company type | Corporation |
|---|---|
| Industry | Audio |
| Founded | (1989) |
| Headquarters | Apex, North Carolina |
Key people | Dennis and Donna Had, founders |
| Products | Audio, Visual |
| Website | Cary Audio |
Cary Audio Design is a company founded in May 1989 which originally designed and manufactured vacuum tube audio amplifiers. Since the mid-1990s they have expanded into the home theater market, producing DVD players and surround sound processors in addition to their original vacuum tube designs.
The company is notable as one of the few U.S. manufacturers of vacuum tube amplifiers. Many of their high-end "Classic Series" designs have received favorable reviews in audiophile publications, including The Absolute Sound, Stereophile and Soundstage!. Their CAD280 SE V12 stereo amplifier received a CES 2001 "Best of Show" designation from reviewer Jim Saxon.[1]
Originally based in (and named after) Cary, North Carolina, Cary Audio Design's facilities are now located in the nearby town of Apex.
Amateur Radio Connection
It should be noted that Dennis Had was also the founder of the Dentron Radio Company, The Founding Owner and designer of the Ameritron amplifiers, and the Amp Supply Company. Amp Supply Company and Dentron are no longer in business. Ameritron is now owned by MFJ Enterprises. Dentron, Ameritron and Amp Supply Company were all based originally in Ohio. Amp Supply moved to Cary, North Carolina and soon morphed into the Cary Audio Company. Amp Supply was eventually closed. Dennis Had has said that he will never reenter the Amateur Radio Market and is easily annoyed when asked.
References
- ^ Saxon, Jim. The 2001 Jimmy Awards in Enjoy the Music, March 2001
Interviews
- The Single-Ended Amplifier: Cary's Dennis Had in Stereophile, September, 1995
Reviews
- Cary Audio Design CAD-5500 "CD Processor" preamplifier in Stereophile, November, 1990
- Cary Audio Design CAD-805 monoblock power amplifier in Stereophile, January, 1994
- Cary Audio Design CAD-300SEI integrated amplifier in Stereophile, September, 1995
- Cary Audio SLI-80 Integrated Amplifier in Soundstage!, January, 1998
- Cary Audio Design CAD-572SE monoblock power amplifier in Stereophile, October, 1998
- Cary Audio Design CAD-300SE LX20 monoblock power amplifier in Stereophile, August, 1999
- Cary CAD-1610-SE monoblock power amplifier in Stereophile, December 2000
- Cary CAD-280SA V12 power amplifier in Stereophile, June, 2001
- Cary SLP-98P tube preamplifier in Stereophile, February, 2004
- Cary 303/200 CD player in Stereophile, May, 2004
- CD 306 CD/SACD Player in The Absolute Sound, September, 2006
- Cary Audio Design SLP 05 preamplifier in Stereophile, September, 2006