Cary Audio Design Xciter - Manual (Page 7)

WELCOME
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PRODUCT FEATURES
The stereo vacuum tube power amplifier has a great history at Cary Audio Design. The superb
lineage of CAD power amplifiers and integrated amplifiers have consistently garnered fantastic
reviews for stable power output, incredible value for the money and sound quality along with
‘Best Buy’ and ‘Class A’ ratings from magazines and reviewers worldwide. Building on this storied
legacy, we are releasing the CAD
Xciter Integrated stereo vacuum tube power amplifier. This
innovative stereo power amplifier was conceived to be a small desktop integrated amp to be
companion to the new CAD
Xciter Digitial to Analog Converter. In the Cary tradition, it features
a gorgeous cabinet and has a subtle touch of translucent blue LED back lighting to complement
the natural beauty of the vacuum tubes. Although it may be small in physical size it is imbued
with the full spirit of Cary Audio. Its 5 watts per channel in class A triode mode plays much
bigger than you might expect and its sublime musicality is just what you would expect from Cary
Audio. For headphone lovers, a standard ¼ inch diameter, 3 circuit output jack is conveniently
located on the front panel to pipe the music to your favorite set of cans. The circuitry is
optimized to provide a good match for all high quality headphones. A front panel switch allows
the user to select between the speakers or headphones. Additional features are the subwoofer
outputs - one for each channel, and the motorized remote control function for adjusting listening
level and mute. You will absolutely enjoy listening to this lovely amplifier – it truly is an
Xciter!
The input circuit is a single-ended design with three (3) switched RCA stereo inputs per channel.
The vacuum tubes in each channel consist of one (1) 12AX7A (dual triode) for the input gain and
for the driver stage and two (2) 6L6GC output power tubes. The filaments of the 12AX7A stages
are direct heated with filtered and regulated 12 VDC for lower noise performance. The first
section of 12AX7A provides the low level preamp gain stage and the second section provides the
phase inverter and differential driver stage. Both sections of the 12AX7A are operating in Class A
with minimal feedback. The 6L6GC output tubes are configured as triodes and operated in a class
A push-pull configuration and are continuously auto biased through cathode auto biasing
circuitry. The laminate output transformers are customized to match the output circuit
requirements and have a signal handling capacity well beyond the amplifiers demands to avoid
any problems with linearity and saturation. Five-way Gold plated speaker binding posts provide
reliable connection to your speakers. Frequency response at full rated output power is from 17
Hz to 23 kHz with less than 2% total harmonic distortion.
The circuitry for the entire amp is designed into a high-grade two-layer printed circuit board with
extensive ground planes and heavy copper circuit traces on the power bus circuitry. Shielded
coaxial cable is used for critical signal path component interfaces. This design approach imparts
an extremely clean layout and a very high performance level. A toroidal power transformer
provides the foundation for a compact, yet high efficiency power supply. The power supply
features seven (7) 100 micro farad low impedance low profile electrolytic capacitors which yields
an abundant total of 700 micro farads of energy storage and provides an excellent dynamic
performance capability. The high voltage power bus is further enhanced with a power choke in a
pi-L configuration for additional filtering to the preamp stage and with two (2) high speed .22
microfarad Kimber Kap polystyrene by-pass capacitors to further enhance the superb transient
response characteristics under demanding musical passages.
The CAD
Xciter integrated Stereo Amplifier is the perfect match for the CAD Xciter Digital
Analog Converter. Together, the companion Xciter tandem will beautify your office or listening
room and deliver a no compromise musical listening experience in a small package.
Let the
Xcitement rock!