308T

About the 308T

The Cary Audio Design 308T is a compact, high-quality CD player released around 2003. It uses a Philips CDM12 transport mechanism and a Burr Brown PCM1704u digital-to-analog converter capable of 24-bit/96kHz upsampling and HDCD decoding. The 308T differs from the standard 308 by incorporating a triode-tubed output stage with a pair of Philips JAN 5814A tubes (variants of 12AU7), providing a fully tube-based gain stage and buffer with no ICs in the audio signal path. It operates single-ended only and includes a lightweight plastic remote control with volume and mute functions. The player weighs about 25 pounds and measures approximately 4 x 18 x 15 inches. It offers a frequency response from 2Hz to 48kHz, a signal-to-noise ratio of 90dB, channel separation of 100dB, and total harmonic distortion of 0.0009%. The line output is 3.6V unbalanced, and digital connections include coaxial output. The front panel is minimalistic with basic display information and no bright LEDs. The 308T is praised for its musicality, bass presence, and solid build quality, making it a highly recommended audiophile CD player.