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  1. #1
    Forum Regular blackraven's Avatar
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    Question Amp opinions needed on Classe amps!

    I've found a couple of used Classe CA201 amps for sale at a good price. I've read some good reivews and one average review from stereophile magazine which usually gives every thing a good review. Stereophile called it a boring amp. Of course they were comapring it to Krell and Ayre amps. They did say it had more of a tube like sound and it was very detailed, transparent and imaged well. I've read some user reiews on other forums and many prefered it over Bryston, CJ and McCormack amps and they seemed to contradict what stereophile had to say.
    Pass Labs X250 amp, BAT Vk-51se Preamp,
    Thorens TD-145 TT, Bellari phono preamp, Nagaoka MP-200 Cartridge
    Magnepan QR1.6 speakers
    Luxman DA-06 DAC
    Van Alstine Ultra Plus Hybrid Tube DAC
    Dual Martin Logan Original Dynamo Subs
    Parasound A21 amp
    Vintage Luxman T-110 tuner
    Magnepan MMG's, Grant Fidelity DAC-11, Class D CDA254 amp
    Monitor Audio S1 speakers, PSB B6 speakers
    Vintage Technic's Integrated amp
    Music Hall 25.2 CDP
    Adcom GFR 700 AVR
    Cables- Cardas, Silnote, BJC
    Velodyne CHT 8 sub

  2. #2
    Class of the clown GMichael's Avatar
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    It would make those Maggies sing like birds on a clear spring morning.
    WARNING! - The Surgeon General has determined that, time spent listening to music is not deducted from one's lifespan.

  3. #3
    Audio Hobbyist Since 1969 Glen B's Avatar
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    Blackraven, I did not see CA-200 being referred to as "boring" in the Stereophile review. I did recommend a CA-200 or 201 to you in your Outlaw thread below. When I bought my CA-300, the dealer had one hooked up to Maggies. The combination was excellent and is what sold me on Classé.
    Last edited by Glen B; 01-16-2008 at 08:23 AM.

  4. #4
    Forum Regular blackraven's Avatar
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    OK, it didnt say it was boring but they used the terms "unexceptional, dynamically quiet,bland, failed to convey speed, dynamics and rhythm of the Krell CD player, I was not totally knocked out by the the Classe CA 200" These are all direct quotes from the article that I'm looking at right now. If that ain't callin it boring (which I confused with bland) then I don't know what is.

    With that being said, They did say it would match well with speakers like Apogee and Magnepans.
    Last edited by blackraven; 01-15-2008 at 09:30 PM.
    Pass Labs X250 amp, BAT Vk-51se Preamp,
    Thorens TD-145 TT, Bellari phono preamp, Nagaoka MP-200 Cartridge
    Magnepan QR1.6 speakers
    Luxman DA-06 DAC
    Van Alstine Ultra Plus Hybrid Tube DAC
    Dual Martin Logan Original Dynamo Subs
    Parasound A21 amp
    Vintage Luxman T-110 tuner
    Magnepan MMG's, Grant Fidelity DAC-11, Class D CDA254 amp
    Monitor Audio S1 speakers, PSB B6 speakers
    Vintage Technic's Integrated amp
    Music Hall 25.2 CDP
    Adcom GFR 700 AVR
    Cables- Cardas, Silnote, BJC
    Velodyne CHT 8 sub

  5. #5
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    I heard some older Classe that I liked pretty well. I heard some brand new models last summer driving mid series B&W's D's. These newer models had the detail and response but the sound was like it was being played in a totally padded room, I hesitate to say dead but I don't know how else to describe it, void of any ambient information. I thought it quite an odd sound from such expensive, or any, gear really. If the models you are looking at are new, within 18 months or so, I'd think hard before jumping. If they are older models then they are the best amps you've asked about so far. Classe's build quality is right in the same class with Krell or Bryston.

    I'd also take reviews with a grain of salt. There is quite a bit of difference between the sound of a CJ and the likes of Krell or McCormack. I think you'd love one of the solid state Conrad Johnson MOSFET amps driving your Maggies. They have a more musically engaging sound, a dark background and one of those amps whose sound stage puts you more in the 15th row opposed to the first row or on stage. Their sound stage also tends to have more depth, everything isn't on one line across the room, you get more of an illusion of some things being further back than others. CJ also seems to give music more of a groove, you some how get more of a sense of timing without the music sounding slower. How they do that, I don't know, it must be magic. Krell keeps everything very even, very controlled, and very fast transcients. The older Classe I heard would be some where in the middle of these two, not as warm and fuzzy as CJ but not as authoritarion as Krell.

  6. #6
    Forum Regular blackraven's Avatar
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    My budget is about $1200-1400. I would still need to drop another $100 for the niles audio amp switcher and another pair of IC's and speaker cables. I wish I could spend more but the wife would object. It would probably cost me a diamond ring if I spent anymore on audio equipment.
    So it may come down to the Classe as other users have rated it well and contradicted the article or a used McIntosh. My preference would be an Acoustic Research Hybrid, CJ, Bryston 4B SST. I've been looking on audiogone but these are out of my league right now. I could afford them but thats 1/2 of a years college tuition payment.
    Pass Labs X250 amp, BAT Vk-51se Preamp,
    Thorens TD-145 TT, Bellari phono preamp, Nagaoka MP-200 Cartridge
    Magnepan QR1.6 speakers
    Luxman DA-06 DAC
    Van Alstine Ultra Plus Hybrid Tube DAC
    Dual Martin Logan Original Dynamo Subs
    Parasound A21 amp
    Vintage Luxman T-110 tuner
    Magnepan MMG's, Grant Fidelity DAC-11, Class D CDA254 amp
    Monitor Audio S1 speakers, PSB B6 speakers
    Vintage Technic's Integrated amp
    Music Hall 25.2 CDP
    Adcom GFR 700 AVR
    Cables- Cardas, Silnote, BJC
    Velodyne CHT 8 sub

  7. #7
    Audio Hobbyist Since 1969 Glen B's Avatar
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    Quote Originally Posted by blackraven
    If that ain't callin it boring (which I confused with bland) then I don't know what is.
    My comment was meant to be tongue-in-cheek. Smiley face added to my previous post.

  8. #8

  9. #9
    Forum Regular O'Shag's Avatar
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    The Classe sound won't turn everyone on. Zizz-nics like a lot of flash and sparkle. The Classe sound is more to the yin than the yang. If you like tube sound - you'll love the Classe. Every Classe amp I've heard, I've liked a lot. Its a natural sound. Plenty of detail, but not exaggerated like so many overly bright solid state amps I've auditioned. If its not possible to hear the CA-201 for yourself before buying, which is the best approach - you might consider a deal for a price under market value, where if you don't like the sound ,you can easily sell without losing too much.

    What has established a place in my heart as one of the best sounding solid state amp I've heard - ie one that appeals to my tastes, is the Mark Levinson No 27. I'm a hybrid/tube sort of guy, but I am into the sound of the No.27 (I have two of them). Generally speaking, I prefer the sound of the older Levinson amps - but thats just me. You'd have to fork out more for the No.27 though I should think.
    Last edited by O'Shag; 01-23-2008 at 08:42 PM.

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