Classe CAP-150 Integrated Amplifiers
Classe CAP-150 Integrated Amplifiers
USER REVIEWS
[Feb 15, 2007]
geojap
AudioPhile
Strength:
Low noise floor, build quality, tonal balance, preamp and amplifier can be used separately, 150 watts per channel power, dynamic ability.
Weakness:
Preamp is not quite up to par with the amplifier section. This review is subject to how this amp sounds in my system, of course. Your mileage may vary. I will try and explain the nuances so you can gauge this amp relatively well for yourself though.
Similar Products Used: McIntosh 2205, McIntosh 2105, Conrad Johnson, Muse 100, vintage equipment. |
[Aug 08, 2001]
John
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
HUGE soundstage,liquid mids...GReat overall sound for the money...built like a tank...
Weakness:
slight speaker hiss noticeable...cheap bindng posts... I have tried tons of combinations of seperates and integrateds....this one is a match made in heaven w/PROACS... Similar Products Used: Creek 4330,Mesa Tigris,Krell KAV300 |
[Nov 15, 2001]
Wyatt
Audiophile
Strength:
Smooth Highs, Liquid mids, well behaved bass
Weakness:
none I love this Classe integrated. It has enough power and current to drive practically any load. It makes a wonderful match with Maggies 1.6QR and Martin Logan Aeris I as well as various B&W speakers I've tried. I was foolish enough to sell mine several years ago in pursuit of more expensive separates. But, without a question, the trade offs were not worth it. The biggest strength of the Classe is that it simply makes music. At the prices I've seen for it used (its discontinued), it's a stone cold bargain and I've bought another to replace the one I let go. Similar Products Used: Krell, McCormack, Adcom, B&K |
[Jul 12, 2001]
Kevin
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Flexibility, Simplicity, Build Quality/componetry.
Weakness:
If only there was a slightly more robust and regulated power supply for the pre-amp section. O.K. I just have to comment on why this is such a winner (as long as you can do without source selection). When you have it matched with a great set of monitors, there is no better value for the money (especially considering some of the used prices I have seen it go for lately). After almost three years with the CAP-150, it still pumps it out for 5-plus hours a day. Additionally, the circuit protection that the designers built into this machine are top notch. Just restart or unplug/replug and it resets and is good to go. This little guy proves that sometimes less is more. The tape loop and ability to seperate the amp and pre-amp allows for a huge combination of system configurations. This is especially true when you are running a DAC or processor for digital inputs. It will live forever somewhere in your house, in some system, regardless of what you buy to replace it. I LOVE MY MUSIC!!!!! (Sorry, I can't help it) Similar Products Used: Krell KAV 300i |
[Nov 17, 1999]
Jen
Audiophile
Strength:
imaging, soundstage, clarity, musical, airy
Weakness:
not sweet enough, need to partner with a good preamp I give this amp 5 stars. By itself, the sound is not |
[Nov 24, 2001]
Ari
Audio Enthusiast
Strength:
Very balanced tonal range. Good dynamics. Build and power.
Weakness:
Don't know yet.... I stumbled onto this used amplifier in a dealer and was impressed with its apparent build quality. It also looked clean and almost unused so I asked the dealer to set up a listening test against a Sim Audio Moon I-5. I have been listening to various integrated amps for the past 4 weeks and was very impressed. Similar Products Used: Simaudio moon I-5, Linn Majik, Rega Mira, AA Puccini, Musical fidelity, Audio Refinement complete |
[Aug 11, 1998]
Kevin
an Audio Enthusiast
Recently purchased a CAP-150 after shopping, intensely, for aproximately 4 months. After visiting virtually every dealer in the DC area and A/Bing all sorts of tube and SS gear (yes, I carefully considered the KAV-300i), this amp was chosen for it's ability to produce tonal accuracy and control my ProAcs without sounding forward or excessively tight. Matching this quality to tube gear (considering my listening levels) placed it far beyond my price range. For it's price, this amplifier is an extremely good value. While it can't double down and drive giant electrostatic loads, it's not supposed to. This amplifier has a very unique quality that seems to be missing among other gear in this price range........ a purpose. The CAP-150 amplifier, like the KAV-300i, is destined for longevity in production. |
[Oct 23, 1998]
Pedro Moral Lopez
an Audiophile
A got my classé after owning a Sherwood 725. The change was amazing.The soundstage and dynamics are very good. Maybe a little weak in bass. Now I am really enjoying music. |
[Jan 22, 1999]
Pat
an Audiophile
I currently do not own, but have auditioned the Class'e CAP-150 and am likely to buy one very soon. I have been shopping for the right integrated amp, under $ 2000.00 for some time and I believe, have found it. Others I had considered were the Naim Nait-3, the Plinius 2100i, and the Myryad Mi-120. While I have not heard the Myryad, I feel safe in the assumption, that for whatever its virtues, I doubt that it could match the body, and smoothness of this integrated amp. The Nait was musical, but I found it a little dry and lacking bass. The Plinius I auditioned was not the 2100i but rather its bigger brother, the 8150. I liked it but it has a rather lenghty warm up period, is at least $ 1000.00 (which is why I had been considering the 2100i; which comes without remote or phono). The Class'e I found to be sweet sounding, producing difficult passages with a fluid ease that made it very easy to listen to, and into. Soundstaging was deep and precise. Images were thrown not only behind and between the speakers, but also from well beyond the left and right extermes of their placement (And my listening room, my living room, is by no means tweaked in. Far from it. It is one big compromise.) One thing though, I found it to be sensative to the type of power cord used with it. When I auditioned the unit, I took it home without the cord so had to rig it with my computers power cord. It sounded nice for what it was diong, but there was no high end. Then when I got the proper cord into the mix, the highs came right back. So I can imagine what an even better aftermarket cord might do to it. I like it. |
[Jan 26, 1999]
Ted
an Audio Enthusiast
Excellent value for the money. Sonically on par with the Krell integrated but with better transparency and a better remote. The Krell slightly edges the CAP 150 in bass impact and current delivery into low impedance loads. However, the CAP 150 has pre-outs and main-ins for greater system flexibility. Also note that all the Classe amps (CA 100, 150, 200, etc) have the same gain so that they could be used for bi-amping. All in all, the CAP 150 has most of the advantages of separates but without the price ticket. |