Classe CA-150 Amplifiers
Classe CA-150 Amplifiers
USER REVIEWS
[Nov 01, 2006]
Norman Cameron
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Will produce any sound you desire...it's just a matter of finding the right cable combination. Built like a tank and if service is ever required...Classé is a pleasure to deal with.
Weakness:
None that I can find. I have owned this amp now for 2 1/2 years and have no desire to replace it...that says alot these days.
Customer Service Excellent! Similar Products Used: Bryston 4B, Cambridge Audio P-500 |
[Jan 05, 2004]
jfalstaff
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Great sound when matched to the right equipment. Incredibly well-controlled and -articulated bass. Heavy, blockish, overbuilt construction - like a Soviet tank.
Weakness:
Sensitive to equipment pairing - suspect that an impedence mismatch with the Modulus 2 is showing up as midrange muddiness at high listening levels. Hmmm... may try an old Denon PRA-1500 and connect its balanced outputs to the balanced inputs on the CA-150 and see what happens. I probably would not have bought this amp for myself (certainly not at retail) as I already had a prefectly good Acurus DIA-100 in my system. My father-in-law bought it to drive a pair of Thiele 1.6s but found that he did not need the power at the listening levels he was used to, and was annoyed by the 12-second delay of the power-on relay. He gave it to me without hesitation. Lucky me! Pairing the CA-150 with an Audible Illusions Modulus 2A preamp sporting a new set of Russian 6H23 tubes and fed by a Njoe Tjoeb CD player gives a rich, warm midrange and deep, tight bass at reasonable listening levels. |
[Apr 28, 2002]
RPB
AudioPhile
Strength:
Forgiving, musical, great bass.
Weakness:
Not the last word in resolution (high buck tube or solid state). I bought this amp for a secondary system. I have a 40K plus main system built around Conrad Johnson equipment and vinyl. This should tell you that I prefer a more romantic sound over an analytical forward presentation, which I find fatiguing. I have listened to all the big names over the years, and owned some of them, and many of the second tier stuff also. I bought brighter sounding gear first, it sounds much more impressive on a short listen, but you grow tired of it in the long run. Coupled with most digital recordings, which are too bright to begin with, you can''t listen at realistic volume for more than half an hour. Classe has always been forgiving and musical sounding and this is what I was looking for, and found with the CA-150. I think the CA-150 is a great amp period, and not just for the money, but it is a great bargain. It sounds like music (I go to the symphony every couple of weeks on a seasons ticket, but like rock, reggae, and jazz too). I am amazed at the shrillness of the Krell Klan critisizing this stuff; it is just a different but equally valid audio flavour, which I happen to prefer. Lots of big name stuff is evolving towards a more musical and less forward presentation over time, this includes Krell and Wilson Audio. Classe was there from the beginning. It really is a great unit if you don''t need the bragging rights of a big name for your ego. Similar Products Used: Conrad Johnson Premier 8, Premier 11A, Sim Audio Moon series (Own Moon I-5), Bryston 4BST, Classe CA 400, McCormack DNA series, Krell KAV 300i and FPB 250, Levinson No 334. |
[Aug 20, 1997]
Jerry
an Audiophile
I decided one day to reduce my "investment" in audio hardware and sold my Classe CA-300. A CA-150 replaced it. I was very happy with the CA-300, but the CA-150 sounded very different. If I described the CA-150's sound, you would think the amp must have been defective. I did! I spent a lot of time on the phone working with the very nice folks at Classe to eliminate the possibility of defects. No, there was nothing wrong with the amp. Compared to the CA-300, it was grainy, flat, poor imaging, etc. |
[Nov 24, 1997]
Bob Bigaouette
an Audiophile
In my search for an amp, I have tested many....my speakers(Maggie's 3.5) are a warm, spacious sounding speaker that needs an amp with a good reserve of power in addition to enhancing the open airiness of the 'Maggie sound'. Classe has those qualities. It is, in my opinion, the warmest sounding solid-state amp that I have auditioned. I did not want to go with tubes for various reasons. The bass on the Classe is full and rich, but not muddy. |
[Feb 28, 2000]
o u
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
soundddddddd
Weakness:
none musical, dynamic, deep bass,excellent soundstage,very smooth and warm mids,clair highs....much more musical than krell.krell has a little more tight bass but his overall sonud quality sucks agains classe.. Similar Products Used: ca100,krell300i,krell kav250a |
[Aug 15, 1997]
Yhe Purist
an Audiophile
Where is Classe' in the list of Amplifier manufacturers? Classe' buildsproducts which deserve comparison with the likes of Levinson, Krell and |
[Mar 05, 1999]
Rob
an Audiophile
The CA-150's sound is on the warm side of neutral. For $2000 it offers a good value and remedy for an otherwise bright system. If you like a warmer sounding amp, I would strongly suggest the CA-200. For my ears, the CA-200 offers a similar sound, but with significantly more detail overall, and a lot more authority and tightness in the bass, for $1000 more. Everyone has different priorities on the money, but to me, the $1000 is well worth it. |
[Jul 22, 1998]
John
I purchased the CA-150 about a year ago. I have found thisamp to be among the best anywhere in its price range. I |
[Nov 12, 2001]
Fryar Tuck
Audiophile
Strength:
Great Sound, Great build quality
Weakness:
Krell users, who are busy trying to console themselves after they find that they've been duped by shallow marketing hyperbole and have paid ridiculous amounts of money for another piece of Krell's truly average equipment. This is a fine product at the price point(as is the CA-151, which is the same but with a new face plate). I'm amazed by all the self proclaimed audiophiles who get on here and write endless reams of B.S.. You people have achieved nothing, other than to prove that you are not audiophiles!! Go to KRELL!! Similar Products Used: Krell(hmm, whats that Smell!?!?), Bryston, ARC, Classe, Pass |