Cary Audio HH - 1 Vacuum - Tube Headphone Amplifier Amp MSRP $1600 Reference Design




Item History & Price

Information:
Reference Number: Avaluer:7021250Number of Channels: 2
Number of L/R RCA Inputs: 1Audio Outputs: 6.3mm Headphone Jack, feeding a single-ended MOSFET output stage., Analog Audio, Stereo L/R RCA
Features: including the power supply for the tube heaters, audio grade toroidal transformer., using a pair of 6DJ8 tubes (one per channel)., MOSFET working in Class A, both vacuum-tube and solid-state technologies,, built on double triodes 6922EH Russian production., three discrete stabilizer, which allows for almost endless tube rolling possi, MOSFET (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Tra, MOSFET solid state devices in the output stage.Amplifier Class: A
Color: SilverModel: HH-1
MPN: Does Not ApplyAudio Inputs: featuring a tube input stage feeding, Stereo L/R RCA
Brand: Cary AudioType: Headphone Amplifier
UPC: Does not apply
Original Description:
Cary Audio HH-1 Vacuum-Tube & Solid State as Hybrid Headphone Amplifier MSRP$1600 Reference DesignNew Great condition, , factory printed manual & vacuum-tube Headphone Amp , according to Cary, these MOSFETs are operating in "Class A" mode at all output levels. 
Tube sound so smooth and the highs are much warmer.Please see attached photos for the connected 2 tube inside
Its a definite collectors item --> Last on the net
...r>Incredible sound stage, effortless musicality,  Ability to tune sound via tube rolling,  Detailed without sounding harsh, built like a tank
Extreme detail, liquid mid-range, sweet treble(with no loss of detail),  Solid deep bass(even sub bass on the right music) built in PSU.
The HH-1 is a hybrid design, offering both tube and solid-state circuits where they can be utilized to their greatest advantage. Tubes make their best contribution to the overall sound when used in the input stage. 
For this, Cary Audio is using a pair of 6DJ8 tubes (one per channel). The output stage is a single-ended current-sourced MOSFET working in Class A at all times.
In the HH-1, the power supply is fully regulated for lowest possible noise,  including the power supply for the tube heaters, and it uses a high performance audio grade toroidal transformer.
Cary Audio Design in the design model HH1 decided to take the best of both worlds, ie use hybrid circuitry. 
And, in fact, enhance the well-lamp voltage and transistors - current. In the end, even for high-load control is never superfluous. And when you consider that the manufacturer is fluent in both vacuum-tube and solid-state technologies,  
then apply them in a single device was quite logical.
Input stages HH1 built on double triodes 6922EH Russian production. 
Followed by the driver transistor balanced, and after it is already included push-pull output stages powerful complementary pairs MJE15032G/15033G. 
The signal at the output is fed through the relay contacts, which provides a delay when the amplifier,  as well as breaks the load when a DC voltage at the output.
Much attention is paid to nutrition. Most of the housing is occupied by a toroidal transformer and three discrete stabilizer 
with powerful regulatory transistors. In smoothing filters use high-quality capacitors Panasonic FM. 
Volume Control - popular with progressive Homebrew potentiometer ALPS RK27. 
In general, the device is made by the ideology of advanced power amplifier version of Light.
When the lights start flashing ring network buttons,  40 seconds in the relay clicks and power goes to the operating mode. 
But this theory, in fact it is better for an hour to warm up to "the voice went into" elements of a sound path.
HH1 tested with two types of headphones 
- 300-ohm Sennheiser HD 580 and Philips Fidelo X1 impedance 30 ohms. 
Both have high sensitivity, wide working range and low distortion.
We start with the Sennheiser HD 580. The first thing to note - the complete absence of any noise or background with shorted inputs. 
And this, by the way, with sensitive headphones and lights at the entrance. 
Sound as a whole neutral, with a rich middle, but slightly weakened the upper range. Vocals gorgeous - relief, rich tone, perfectly articulated. Lowercase extremely informative without monotony, with clearly readable structure. Character play like an expensive monitor kit - mathematically accurate, but somehow detached, without a "spark". That is valuable - all properties are maintained at any volume. No distortion, no compression or color, margin dynamics enormous.
Go to the 30-ohm Fidelo X1. This is something - the sound appears drive, bass literally untied noticeably cleaned by the upper range. 
This variant is easily recommended to fans of rock and other genres emotionally charged. However, it is very noticeable sibilance on some recordings even too. Amplifier, being completely transparent in itself, tends to emphasize the features of the other elements of the tract. Therefore, the formation of an individual system is better to start with HH1,  let alone under it to pick up the headphones and cables. The result can please even the most discerning audiophile.

Cary Audio HH-1 Hybrid Tube/Solid State Headphone Amplifier ($1, 599)the HH-1 is nonetheless a very fine sounding product.Design
I am NOT a fan of the "much deeper than wide" form factor that the HH-1 has, but readily admit I may be in the minority. It's shelf-friendly, but not all that desktop friendly. The HH-1 is quite solidly built, if fairly basic stylistically. It is also pretty simple around back - line in, and line out (presumably allowing the HH-1 to also serve as a one-input preamp) on pcb-mounted RCA jacks. The front contains the power button, 1/4" single ended headphone jack, and the volume control. Simplicity defined.The HH-1 uses two 6DJ8/6922 vacuum tubes in the gain stage (which allows for almost endless tube rolling possibilities), and then(Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field Effect Transistor) as MOSFET solid state devices in the output stage. This "hybrid" configuration is often used to give a tube sound to the device while driving more power at the output than could easily be done with tubes without a massive power supply and creating lots of heat. And further, according to Cary, these MOSFETs are operating in "Class A" mode at all output levels. Also, I think that the MOSFETs have a significant impact on the HH-1's sound. And I do think tube amps where you have to open the case to roll the tubes are less inviting for tube-rolling, overall.I used both the Audio Technica W3000ANV and the Ultrasone Edition 8 for the review, and the HH-1 was outstanding with both. Sound
Since I brought it up, let's start on the bottom. Listening to "All of It" from Bella Sonus's "Enamoured",  there were a few times when the bass was so deep and powerful I couldn't stop my subconscious reaction in yanking the LCD-3 off my head to see if I had accidentally left a subwoofer on. Some of the deepest, tightest bass I have heard yet from the LCD-3 was on tap via the HH-1. Indeed, no need to worry about this Cary's bass performance. It was exemplary. All of the three cans I used showed good bass performance via the Cary.The midrange was open and transparent, and on the lush/beautiful side of things. Vocals were very well served by this. And well recorded rock like Porcupine Tree's "Stupid Dream" sounded excellent, with good nuance and detail in both the midrange and treble. The treble was smooth and silky, and very clean and non-edgy. It was also just a little soft. The HH-1 is undeniably voiced like a tube amp, hybrid or not.It's clean, clear, and has no problem conveying musical detail,  but the music is nonetheless rendered a bit prettier than real life actually is. It's not like the Cary puts so much rosy glow on the music that it seems artificial, but there is some romanticism that's being applied. What makes the Cary so engaging is that the application is combined with the rest of the package,  like strong transparency, nuance, and detail, that the overall presentation serves the music well - VERY well.But if you are a "neutrality uber alles" type, then the HH-1 is simply not going to be the amp for you. I recently reviewed the Burson Audio Soloist and, as I mentioned in my review, it's at the other end of the spectrum - neutral to perhaps just a very wee tad bright. It's a much better choice if one's predilections drift that direction. But for me really it's more about headphone matching. If you are married to that one special headphone, make sure it likes a slightly lush sounding amp. And if your main squeeze headphone is sometimes a bit icy, the Cary may be just the ticket for a life of bliss.The Ultrasone Edition 8 sounded better with the HH-1 than I've ever heard them sound. The "Ed 8" can use a touch of warmth, and the Cary provided just the right amount. I could, and did, sit around and listen to that combination for hours. I daresay the vast majority of speaker system hi-fis that cost the same as a good DAC plus the Cary and Ed 8 won't sound nearly as good and will be FAR more colored. It would be fun to play that combination for a died-in-the-wool speaker audiophile who had never heard a good headphone rig, and watch said person's jaw hit the ground.The HH-1 was equally impressive with the Audio Technica ATH-W3000ANV. I loved this pairing too - I couldn't get enough. Neal Morse's vocals on Transatlantic's cover of America's "I Need You" from "Whirlwind" were just plain chilling. Ditto Steven Wilson's on Porcupine Tree's "Buying New Soul" from "Recordings". That's a reference track for me, and the Cary served it up in such a compelling way that I wanted to play the 10-minute-plus track repeatedly.The Cary was also a sound staging champ. Width and depth were both outstanding. Playing Mumford and Sons' take on Simon and Garfunkle's "The Boxer" gave me such a case of the goosebumps I thought I was going to fall over. It was positively SPOOKY how well the HH-1 dished out a soundscape and drew me into it. I've come back to it several times...same result. Really good stuff. Imaging freaks, take note.ConclusionThe Cary Audio HH-1 is definitely a highly enjoyable listen. As with any audio product,  it's not going to be perfect for every listener, and like every headphone amp, it's not going to be perfect with every headphone. 
But if you like a little romance in your music, and you haven't already bought a romantic sounding headphone (which might yield too much of a good thing), the HH-1 is very easy to recommend.
 Definitely offering highly competitive performance at its price point, with the right headphones, I could live very happily with the HH-1 as my main, or only, headphone amp It deserves serious consideration if your goals are a highly musical experience. Enthusiastically recommended, as described.
Michel Dallaire from TED Magazine reviews the HH-1 headphone amplifier.TED Magazine is based in Canada and the article is written in French. “The Cary Audio HH-1 with HiFiMan, reproduced the power and majesty of the orchestra so faithfully that it gave me goosebumps. (from the last page with image)The connections and functioning of the HH-1 are so simple that you do not need to read the instruction manual to set up and use it.We do not know if Cary plans to build a version with built in DA converter and USB input,  which the HH-1 does not offer, giving it the advantage of protecting it from obsolescence.The Cary/HiFiMan combination allowed me to follow the interplay between musicians and singers with precision.With the Cary/HiFiMan duo, nothing was added nor retracted from the original recording.”Please click here to read the full review.  https://www.caryaudio.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/12/cary_hi-fi_man_no_ads.pdfIf Midas also had the touch for musicality, he would be on the design team at Cary Audio that created the HH-1 Headphone Amplifier! Built for the serious headphone and personal listening devotee, this hybrid beauty is one sweet piece of gear. Weighing in at 10 pounds and the largest headphone amp in physical dimensions I have ever reviewed,  the HH-1 sports two 6DJ8 tubes in the input stage and MOSFETs biased in class A in the output stage. The new highly regarded Grado PS 1000 Headphones were among the top cans used in the voicing of the HH-1."The new HH-1 headphone amplifier from Cary Audio is an all-new hybrid design,  featuring a tube input stage feeding a single-ended MOSFET output stage. These MOSFETs were chosen as they have sonic characteristics very similar to tubes, and the entire amplifier operates fully in class-A at all output levels.”I set up a review system with an E.A.R. Acute II CD Player feeding the E.A.R. 834L line stage via the new Kimber 1036 interconnects. This was coupled to the HH-1 with Kubala-Sosna Emotion! Interconnects, all single-ended from the tape-out connectors on the line stage as recommended by Cary. I also auditioned my McIntosh MR71 FM Tuner and Dynaco FM3 Tuner in the same circuit. A Kubla-Sosna Emotion Power Cord was used on the HH-1.The Cary is quite minimalist for such a large chassis. It has single-ended inputs and outputs and a detachable AC cord on the back. It features a volume knob, a single RCA phone connector, and a power button on the front.That's it.It also has two red LEDs on the circuit board to let you know the tubes have fired up. It uses a 30-second delay from power-on to give the tubes a chance to settle down before listening. Everything on this Cary Audio unit worked perfectly, with no quirks at all. I ran it for 100 hours with music before doing any critical listening. The headphones that I paired with the HH-1 included the Grado PS 1000s, PS 500s, Ultrasone Edition 8s, and Audeze Version 2s. On hand for comparison were the E.A.R. HP4, Lyr, KingRex, and Benchmark DAC1.Cut to the ChaseAs terrific as the HH-1 performed, I appraise it as being about 75% as detailed as the E.A.R. HP4, though the E.A.R. design runs 4X the cost. So, if you want the world's best cost-no-object headphone amp for dynamic cans, you can stop reading now.But on the other hand, if you are searching for a moderately priced headphone amp for quality cans that gets you above the confusion of the $400-$1500 headphone amps proliferating all over the net,  the HH-1 is for you! I could not find anything priced below the $1599 HH-1 that truly challenged it! Even the hard to drive Audeze sounded delicious and delightful on the HH-1,  and a quantum leap beyond the Lyr's performance. I even tube-rolled my friend's Schiit made Lyr headphone amp with Telefunkens tubes and Bugle Boys and could not close the gap with the stock HH-1. Schiit Lyr 2 with Telefunken E88CC tubes    bugle boys (6dj8) Yes, the HH-1 is 4X the price of the stock Lyr, but if you are spending $1000 on cans, a more expensive and sophisticated headphone amp is warranted.I'll share with you some of the great music that was really key in my evaluation of the Cary Audio HH-1The jump factor on the solo cello sections and the bell-like tone of the Steinway are truly mellifluous and entertaining with the HH-1. I particularly liked this CD on the Edition 8s, as it had a distinct you-are-there sound. It was with this disk that I heard a slight touch of dryness on the HH-1, due, I suppose, to the MOSFETs. If this had been an all-tube design,  I might not have heard this artifact, though it would surely have been more costly to build the HH-1 if done with tubes. I consider this a minor quibble, and one I did not hear in cans under $1200.This new pressing of a masterpiece of engineering is worth getting even if you have the USA pressed original... it sounds better, folks!Margareta Bengtson,  Spice of Life, CD SOL MB 0001, using the song "Where the Midnight Sun Never Sets."This is a true reference vocal with small combo that is in the room with you as few other CDs I know of. Her pure vocal nuances were exceptionally produced with the HH-1, and the ambient cues were just beautiful and well fleshed out. I found the Grado PS 500s were magic with the HH-1, more so than any other cans on hand. There is a synergy with the 500s that you just have to hear.I know lots of you love the Audeze sound, and they make beautiful music with the HH-1 and this wondrous CD. Nevertheless, the sound is a gorgeous confusing mess compared to the super detailed,  well organized, even natured performance of the Grados and Edition 8s. But if you must own the Audeze, try them on the HH-1 before you buy anything else. They still sound emotional and swaggering, but a bit more sophisticated to me. I am going to stick with the more linear and neutral cans, just as I do loudspeakers.I did not try tube-rolling, but certainly easy to do with the HH-1. Any 6DJ8 variants will work. The tubes included are extremely quiet, detailed, neutral, and open sounding. I could easily live with them on the long haul. I think a pair of Mullard 6922s or GEs from Kevin Deal at Upscale Audio in Upland might be fun selections here, and may buy you added definition and richness.ConclusionThis new product from Cary Audio for the personal listening fan or monitoring pro is all Class A, and I have to say that I found its performance to be Class A as well! It is a killer amplifier at its price point of $1599, and unequaled by anything less costly in my experience. I could not find any cans that were not well served by the HH-1—even the hard-to-drive Audeze and the maxed-out Grado PS 1000s curled up and purred! Extremely detailed and smooth,  you can listen to the hybrid HH-1 until the cows come home! This is a fantastic match with the new Grado PS 500s. Could you spend a lot more and get some more performance out of your dynamic headphones?





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