Cary Audio SLP-300 Preamplifier And DMS-300A Streaming Integrated Amplifier Assessment Review
Hi-Res Music streaming for the modern music lover.
HIGH END 2025 Audiophile Show Report By Steven R. Rochlin

  Founded in 1989 by Dennis Had, Cary Audio proudly designs and builds their audiophile products in North Carolina, USA, and at this year's HIGH END 2025 show in Munich are celebrating their new SLP-300 Preamplifier and DMS-300A Streaming Integrated Amplifier. Cary Audio founders were devoted audio enthusiasts who set out to create high-performance equipment — with an early focus on vacuum tube amplifiers — that would define their standard for sonic purity. Originally based in Cary, North Carolina, the company earned acclaim for its dedication to delivering sound quality with classic vacuum tube designs.

Cary Audio alerted Enjoy the Music.com ahead of time that the heart of their presentation at HIGH END 2025 is a dynamic active system engineered for uncompromising sound quality featuring the SLP-05 Preamplifier, CAD-211FE monoblock vacuum tube amplifiers, and DMS-800PV Network Streamer / Hi-Res DAC. All of these components power the Fyne Audio Vintage Classic XII loudspeakers, while top-tier cabling from The Chord Company and precision room treatments by GIK Acoustics.

CAD-120S MKII Stereo Tube Amplifier

Static Displays: In addition to the active listening demonstration, Cary Audio will also showcase several classic models that have earned their reputation among audio purists:

SLP-98 Preamplifier
SA-200.2 ES Power Amplifier
SLI-80HS Integrated Amplifier

Cary Audio DMS-650 Network Audio Player

These units offer visitors of HIGH END 2025 a chance to explore Cary Audio's product history and to appreciate the American craftsmanship that has made their equipment a part of high-end audio. Here in Munich they were spotlighting two new products making their world debut:

The Cary Audio SLP-300 Preamplifier is one of the brand's latest cutting-edge debuts, representing a confluence of classic tube warmth with modern digital connectivity — all delivered in a fully balanced design. The SLP-300 is built entirely with vacuum tubes in its signal path. This design choice is meant to provide an inherently warm, musical, and rich audio character that audiophiles often seek in high-end tube amplifiers.

Unlike traditional preamplifiers with single-ended designs, Enjoy the Music.com knows of the benefits of the SLP-300's adoption as a fully balanced unit. This minimizes noise and interference — critical factors when aiming for pristine, high-fidelity sound reproduction. A modern, full-color LCD is integrated into the unit. This display not only gives it a contemporary visual appeal but also provides real-time information on operational status, settings, and performance metrics, making the unit both user-friendly and visually engaging.

Cary Audio's new SLP-300 stereo preamplifier is equipped with a generous array of connections including balanced XLR inputs / outputs and unbalanced RCA inputs / outputs. Tailored for turntable users, this specialized stage optimizes the delicate signals from vinyl sources, preserving the nuances inherent in analog recordings. The headphone amplifier provides a dedicated output for personal listening.

Also new and being showcased at HIGH END 2025 is the Cary Audio DMS-300A Streaming Integrated Amplifier. This all-in-one unit seeks to unite modern streaming capabilities with high-end amplification. Designed within a Class AB architecture, it delivers 75 Watts per channel, two channels (stereo). At its core, the DMS-300A is a solution for today's digitally inclined audiophiles.

By incorporating a streaming DAC directly into its architecture, this integrated amplifier eliminates the need for separate source components. For digital services, the typical Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, and Qobuz Connect are supported, as it being Roon ready. DLNA and AirPlay additional connectivity options broaden compatibility.

SI-300.2d Integrated Amplifier

Our Thoughts And Review
Car Audio's SLP-300 stereo preamplifier and DMS-300A Streaming Integrated Amplifier are more than just another piece or two of home hi-fi gear for audiophiles — it's aimed at producing a high-fidelity audio experiences. By merging vintage vacuum tube technology with modern control and connectivity, Enjoy the Music.com feels that Cary Audio positioned their SLP-300 and DMS-300A Streaming Integrated Amplifier as an instrument that honors the legacy of high-end analog audio plus they meet the practical demands of today's modern immersivephile, music lover, and for interconnected audiophile music consumption.

This detailed setup with other bits of Cary Audio exemplifies their commitment to both tradition and innovation, uniting high-fidelity components with modern connectivity. Be sure to visit our Review Magazine to learn more about luxurious audiophile equipment, plus we provide thought-provoking think pieces and much more! As always, in the end what really matters is that you... enjoy the music.

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