Has a very warm, detailed,uncolored sound. The remote control volume is very smooth and predictable.

Very long burn-in time. Runs hot. Cosmetics are mediocre.

I'm sorry, but I have to disagree with anyone that says this amplifier is overrated. For being solid state and in this price range, you just can't beat it. The burn-in time for this amplifier is incredibly long. You'll know when it's burned in. It happens very suddenly. It'll hit you all at once. You'll find yourself listening to everything all over again, thinking "I wonder how this will sound?". I can understand why people can be discouraged with the "out of the box" sound.

Similar Products Used:

conrad-johnson, Adcom, Harman-Kardon, Counterpoint

Musical, Bass, Seperation of instruments, Neutrality, Treble, Mids, Drive.

Zero and anyone who says so is a tube freak and should comment on tube electronics, not solid state.

PS, is as sweet sounding as expensive tube amps.

Amazing!
It was a Naim CD5X and NAIT5I V.S The Creek and A C.E.C. Tl51X. both systems coming at around $4000 CAN. The Naim being greatly reduced. The Creek CEC combo had it beat hands down! At retail price still a bargain! It is musical, never adding anything the source doesn't send to it. but when the music calls for great highs or deep deep bass, the creek delivers abundently! (On Quad 22L's)

I have listened to many many systems over the years. This system that comes at around $6500 CAN. WILL Without a doubt beat most systems at double or more the price. Thats a fact, and its partly if not mostly due to the amp.

The naim system had one of the top five cdplayers in the world in it's corner. Didn't matter. The cec pulled through and with the help of the creek obliverated it (imo)

It thrives in musicality and seperating instruments. Extreme frequencies, but don't let that scare you mid-range freaks. It's still brittish, and Voices are crystal.

Customer Service

5 star

Similar Products Used:

Arcam, Naim, MF, NAD, Audio Refinment, NADS300, Cambridge Audio 840, Macintosh, Audiomat, Creek Evo, Byston. and so forth.

Had a headphone jack.

Weak sounding with harsh sound compared to tube integrated. Poor value. Not even the jacks were copper. El Cheapo speaker binding posts.

I had the new Classic version of this amp in my den system for about a week while I was getting a small hum problem in my Unico integrated resolved. I swear this amp made my ears bleed. The Opera speakers that are so musical with the Unico sounded extremely harsh as well as weak. The Uniden powered my Martin Logan Summits pretty well although inferior to my MF TriVista mostly on the high frequencies and detail. The Creek was crap. Build quality was deplorable compared to other amps in this range.

Similar Products Used:

Copland CSA14
Uniden SE
Musical Fidelity TriVista

Good midrange, detail.

Not musical enough for me. Overrated.

I think the reason people are so fond of Creek 5350SE initially are mostly due to the rave reviews, and the classic style. In adition to the motorized volume control, a fancy motorized input switching mechanism. Arcam A85 was another choice, but it had all digital controls (including digital tone controls) and I thought Creek with its simpler design would sound more natural, musical, less processed... I bought Creek 5350SE initially. I used it over a year with my Dynaudio Audience 80's. It had good midrange and detail but lacked overall tonal balance and musicality, it felt dry. I wasn't happy, so I sold it at a huge loss, and bought the Arcam A85. I was happier. I kept it until I had to sell my whole system for financial reasons. Now after 2 years, I am looking to by a better system, and I am looking at the FMJ line. If you are in the market for an integrated, I strongly recommend that you consider the Arcam. Parasound Halo series also sounded good (pre+power) at a similar price. Do not do the same mistake, and assume that 'digital controls degrade the sound'. One of my friends owns a $20,000 Meridian system that has all digital controls and built in DAC's in speaker cabinets, and sounds allmost life-like.

Similar Products Used:

NAD, Rotel, Plinius

Yes

No

I just tried running this integrated with my Yamaha NS-1000M studio monitors and found the best midrange match in my 30 year sound engineering career. Jaw dropping and pinpoint deep imaging. The Creek CD50 Mk2 CD player assists in the picture. I am finally dropping out of the upgrade sickness. This is what I always hoped for.

Similar Products Used:

Many but none that came close for the money.

See summary

Cheap-looking remote control, no balance, runs hot

Many, many good points: - Nice look, small, thick aluminium plate - Excellent phone output - Fantastic sound : detailed, smooth, neutral, clear, dynamic, ..... Among the other integratedb I know, only the Thule IA60B SE comes close to it.I - Well build and modular (active preamp, phono MM or MC can be added)

Similar Products Used:

NAD, Denon, Audiolab, Arcam, Rotel, Thule

Great value Great sound for the price and even above it's price. SOudns great with orchestral, chamber, jazz and can even get up and move with Linkin Park and Chemical Brothers. Norah Jones and Diana Krall sound absolutely beautiful.

Not the ultimate in warmth and musicality, but you would need to give up many other important attributes to get those qualities at this price.

This piece has clearly been splattered over the headlines and hi fi rags from coast to coast and across the pond. I must say that I have been ver happy with mine. There are a lot of things to agree with that other reviewers have said. This is not the ultimate amp, it will not make you want to throw out your BAT, VTL or Tenor amp. Yes, it is an incredible product for the price but it will not compete in the $3000+ separates category by any means. However, it does have a passive line stage with pre-outs and main-ins that make it a clean very capable preamp with other electronics and gives you a very nice upgrade path. (I am currently considering getting a Rogue 88 for this purpose) I would like to echo something another reviewr said about the connectors between the pre-out main-in rcas. I didn't really think that this would make a big difference but I got the AudioQuest Python Jumpers (from the cable co. about $30) and they did make a surprising differnce, they also are much cheaper than getting the same quality .5m cables--highly recommended. I find the bass to be weighty and detailed and the unit has great midrange presence and clarity with clean but not rough highs. I would say that the catch phrase for the 5350se is neutral and detailed.

Excelent all around

none

i have this amp for about 1 year.good results with energy veritas 2.1 and amc 8b cd player.AWESOME.

Similar Products Used:

mf a3, arcam a85 bryston b60

musical and natural sounding

none

since i have the creek 5350se,there is no need for separated amp,pre. the sound is like life performance,sweet and spectacular.

Similar Products Used:

mark levinson,red rose boulder etc.

Smooth sound, good bass & mids.

A little dull, not as involving as some other integrated amps. Not as defined as some others either.

A decent amplifier at a decent price, but there are others that sound better at the same price point. Smoother than the Arcam A-85, but not as exciting. The Arcam is punchier, with slightly better detail. The Bryston and Mistral LE amps best it in most ways, but the bass of the Creek is very nice. The 5350SE seems to be stable and reliable. Resale is good, too. You won't go wrong with this amp, but most people can find a better fit if they shop around. Highly overrated in the magazines IMHO.

Similar Products Used:

Classe CAP 151 LFD Mistral LE Bryston b-60 Arcam A-85