Cary 6 Measurements and Analysis - Part 3 and Conclusion
Signal to Noise Ratio
The noise floor was slightly higher than on the analog inputs, and primarily consists harmonics of the power supply residual at 50 Hz (150 Hz, 250 Hz, ...):
The unweighted dynamic range was around 82 dB and the A-weighted dynamic range was around 93 dB. This is about average for a pre/pro:
FFT Distortion Analysis
Unweighted THD+noise at -3dB FS was 0.018%, and the corresponding A-weighted figure was 0.005%, which is slightly worse than the 0.003% quoted in the manual:
Intermodulation distortion (based on 70Hz + 7kHz fundamentals) was also low: 0.017% unweighted and 0.006% A-weighted.
Based on swept tones, IMD rose from -88 to -69 for 0-40kHz.
Finally, stereo crosstalk was fairly low and generally hovered around -90dB FS apart from around 50 Hz and above 10 kHz:
0dBFS+ Level Handling (at 44.1kHz 24-bits)
For an explanation of what 0dBFS+ levels are, please read our article on the topic. Surprisingly the Cary Cinema 6 has about 1dB headroom even when the pre-amp attenuation level is set to the max of 0dB. When the pre-amp attenuation level was set to -8dB, the Cinema 6 handled 0dBFS+ levels with no difficulty:
| Frequency (sine wave) | Phase | Analog peak level (theoretical) | Pre-Amp 0dB | Pre-Amp -8dB |
| 5,512.5 Hz | 67° | +0.69 dB FS | +0.69 dB FS | +0.69 dB FS |
| 7,350.0 Hz | 90° | +1.25 dB FS | +1.02 dB FS | +1.25 dB FS |
| 11,025.0 Hz | 45° | +3.00 dB FS | +1.17 dB FS | +3.04 dB FS |
This is the best 0dBFS+ handling I have ever seen in a digital component, so full marks to the Cinema 6 for playing back all digital recordings with absolutely no clipping whatsoever!
Conclusions and Overall Perceptions
I really wanted to like the Cinema 6 - after all, at the end of the day, it's the audio quality that counts, right? And in terms of audio quality, the Cinema 6 is quite simply the best sounding surround processor I have heard to date, and I've listened to some fancy ones, including Meridian 568, Lexicon MC-8 and Krell Showcase pre pros. If you wanted high quality video switching, top class Dolby Digital and DTS decoding, excellent digital to audio conversion, plus a great analog 2ch and multi-channel pre-amplifier all rolled up into one package, the Cinema 6 is it.
However, I couldn't get pass many annoying faults and limitations, particularly the lack of ability to memorize the input type (coaxial, optical, analog) and last used surround processing mode per input source. Also, the unit has a noticeable lag locking onto digital input formats, and often with a brief noise burst.
I hope Cary Audio Design will be able to fix some of these faults in a firmware upgrade. The Harman Kardon 435 and 635 AV receivers (also based on the Cirrus Logic CS49400 DSP) have similar faults, but these have been recently rectified through a new firmware release.
Apex NC 27539
(919)355-0010
http://www.caryaudio.com
The Score Card
The scoring below is based on each piece of equipment doing the duty it is designed for. The numbers are weighed heavily with respect to the individual cost of each unit, thus giving a rating roughly equal to:
Performance × Price Factor/Value = Rating
Audioholics.com note: The ratings indicated below are based on subjective listening and objective testing of the product in question. The rating scale is based on performance/value ratio. If you notice better performing products in future reviews that have lower numbers in certain areas, be aware that the value factor is most likely the culprit. Other Audioholics reviewers may rate products solely based on performance, and each reviewer has his/her own system for ratings.
Audioholics Rating Scale
— Excellent
- — Very Good
- — Good
- — Fair
- — Poor
| Metric | Rating |
|---|---|
| Frequency Response Linearity | |
| SNR | |
| Multi-channel Audio Performance | |
| Two-channel Audio Performance | |
| Video Processing | |
| Bass Management | |
| Build Quality | |
| Fit and Finish | |
| Ergonomics & Usability | |
| Ease of Setup | |
| Features | |
| Remote Control | |
| Performance |  |
| Value | |
