AXPONA 2016 Press Center
Merrill Audio Advanced Technology Labs
Cara Solid-State Stereo Preamplifier

  Merrill Audio Advanced Technology Labs will be debuting their Cara stereo preamplifier ($3500) at AXPONA 2016 within Room 520. Claimed to be a new level of control and performance for a pre-amplifier price point, the Cara preamplifier, with a frequency response to 200kHz within 0.1dB. With huge set of features, the Cara preamplifier is a must for any level or resolution system and brings in a new performance price point. The Cara Pre-amplifier employs a circuit design that delivers exceptional detail and astonishing realism with excellent control to create a revolution in pre-amplifiers.

Using transformer like circuits that achieve CMRR of a balance transformer with the gain, drive and bandwidth of active circuitry, the Cara Preamplifier brings a new level of input line noise rejection and output line noise reduction. Already a quiet pre-amplifier the Cara provide exceptional level of control and sound, with capability to drive cables long distances and maintain excellent noise rejection from the input and output components.

With active gain control circuit design for the volume control, the Cara Preamplifier achieves a very wide range of attenuation and gain, ranging from -99 to +15 dB allowing for volume control of high output DAC's and low output phono stages, all in 0.5dB steps.

Offering dual independently set outputs, the Cara is excellent for bi-amplifying and monitoring with each output capable of having a difference of up to 115 dB from the other. Each of the 4 inputs have independent preset gain settings that allow normalizing of the different inputs. Each input pre-set allows a +/- 12dB setting and in combination allows input variations of up to 48dB to be normalized. A large LED display allows easy viewing of channel volume and information. The Display brightness can be set, has delayed dimming and turn of. Further control on your system is provided with a Max Volume setting, Min Volume Setting, Remote Trigger for on/off of other components. All setting is saved in permanent memory and full configurable with the remote. Input impedance is at 100k Ohms are a very easy load to any source component. Signal to noise ration is 110dB with a total harmonic distortion of 0.002%.

Using an external Power supply, the Cara preamplifiers seems like a passive volume controls and its high current output drives long cables with ease. Input impedance is at 100kOhms are a very easy load to any source component. Merrill Audio's Cara preamplifier is said to produce a rich musical sound that crosses tube and solid-state aficionados with the speed and control that only solid-state can provide.

With the award winning amplifiers like the VERITAS monoblocks , Thor monoblocks and Jens phonostage, which Harry Weisfeld has stated that is the best phonostage he has every heard. Merrill Audio has been providing excellent value and one of the highest performance audio products that include power amplifiers, preamplifiers, phonostages, interconnects, speaker cables and power cords. Enjoy the Music.com's review said "The Merrill Audio VERITAS Monoblocks are faithful to its designer's vision. More importantly, it is faithful to the original performance. What you hear is what you get; what you learn and feel is up to you. The VERITAS Monoblocks makes sure of that. You may well be drawn to the VERITAS Monoblocks for their raw power and transparency. But you will fall hard for them because of their subtlety, their way with music and connection they allow you to make with it: the insights there for you discover, just as the emotions are there for you to experience." Read our review of the VERITAS monoblock amplifiers at this link.

---> Back to AXPONA 2016 Press Center by Enjoy the Music.com.

Previous CES Show Reports
2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010, 2009, 2008, 2007, 2006, 2005, 2004, 2003, 2002, 2001, 2000, 1999, 1998, 1997, and 1996.