First try additioning a power amp....

[dvjorge]

Hi guys,
This weekend I picked up a Classe CA-101 to test it. Iam looking for a power amp to improve my setup. Cd player is a Nad 541, speakers Paradigm Studio 100 V2, a Nad integrated is used as a preamp with tone defeat ON. The amplifier has a great sound but there is a little detail that is stopping me. The sound won everything but the top end is a little laid back. I feel a lost in high frecuency details. Is this a characteristic of Classe amplifiers? My dealer told me, I probably go better with Musical Fidelity. The Classe sounds very good, but to my taste with a little bit more details at high frecuency could be ideal. What do you advise me guys?
Thanks for your time,
Jorge

[Geoffcin]

Hi guys,
This weekend I picked up a Classe CA-101 to test it. Iam looking for a power amp to improve my setup. Cd player is a Nad 541, speakers Paradigm Studio 100 V2, a Nad integrated is used as a preamp with tone defeat ON. The amplifier has a great sound but there is a little detail that is stopping me. The sound won everything but the top end is a little laid back. I feel a lost in high frecuency details. Is this a characteristic of Classe amplifiers? My dealer told me, I probably go better with Musical Fidelity. The Classe sounds very good, but to my taste with a little bit more details at high frecuency could be ideal. What do you advise me guys?
Thanks for your time,
Jorge
Hooked up to my speakers. Actually, a friend has the exact speakers as mine, and is using a Classe 401 to drive them. The Classe is a very neutral sounding amp, bordering on dark. It's great match for speakers that tend to have a more pronounced high frequancy responce, and also speakers that can benefit from it's massive amount of damping. Musical Fidelity is another beast entirely. My Musical Fidelity A3cr has the ability to output incredible amount of high frequancy power. It's a much more "lively" sounding amp than the Classe, but not well suited to speakers that more pronounced high frequancy responce, as it would tend to make them sound "agressive". So, if more detail in the upper range is what your after, and your speakers are neutral to laid back, then I can reccomend the SS MF amps without question.

[topspeed]

Whatever amp you do end up buying, make sure you have a few testing parameters set-up when auditioning them. Obviously, bring the amps home to test within your own rig. Next, get a SPL meter, a test disc, and make sure you are level matching each and every amp when switching them out. Any differences in volume can and will dramatically color your opinion. Finally, I'd have a friend/spouse help you when doing your testing. Second opinions are always good and this will also allow you to do some blind testing to make sure you're buying the best amp, not the best nameplate.

Have fun with your auditioning! Hope this helps.