balance, emotion, texture and inner detail, great soundstage

none which are sound related. see above

This is indeed an excellent preamp. I was looking for something better than my McIntosh C712 and I finally found it. I owned a Conrad-Johnson PV10, an Audio Research LS3b, and a Krell KAV250p before settling on the CP50 as the one to keep. The CP50 has allows inner detail and texture to come through much better than the others listed above. This is the most striking thing about this preamp. Also, the soundstage depth is fantastic, the width is good, and image stability is excellent. It is an excellent preamp all around. The remote is a work of art although using tiny allen screws for the battery access was a stupid idea. You have to be very careful when removing them to prevent stripping. System synergy is paramount so I always list my associated equipment. Otherwise, the review is meaningless since the reference and context is missing. I use JM Lab Electra 926 speakers, McIntosh MC7200 amplifier, Classe CP50 preamp, and a Jolida JD100 tube cd player. I have treated and tested my room to make sure my frequency response is accurate so that I can rely on my opinions. This is all too often overlooked by reviewers.

Similar Products Used:

see above

Quiet, easy on the ears, gets out of the way of the music well, pairs great with a CA amp, very solidly built

A tiny bit dull compared to a good tube preamp, off switch is too well hidden for my teeny little brain, milled aluminum remote qualifies as weight lifting...

Wow, this thing is terrific. OK, it's solid state, but it just kicked the pants of a stock Counterpoint SA-5 that I also bought (sorry Mike!). I normally prefer tube gear for the wonderous midrange (I listen to mostly female vocalists, folk, etc.), but this preamp is so well done, I'm going to have to put the SA-5 up for sale. Great toy. I am new to the CP-50, and have no manual; anyone wanna tell me how to turn the darn thing off other than pulling the plug?? No power switch that I can see. Canadian engineers from another planet, apparently. System: CA-300 amp (mmm!) MicroMega stage 2 Cd Randall TX & MIT MI 330+ series 2 interconnects MIT MH 750 biwired cables Von Schweikert VR-4s

Similar Products Used:

Counterpoint SA-5 in A/B test, McIntosh, various others

Exceptionally low background noise floor; Battleship build quality; Good ergonomics - both on panel and remote; Remote is a piece of metal sculpture - brilliant, particularly when compared to the nasty plastic units from virtually everyone else; sonic performance is outstanding - imaging/staging/dynamics/etc are great.
Using a Classe power amp with the CP-50 offers real synergy - they match well.

Could use a second set of balanced outputs to support bi-amping configuration.

As mentioned in another review (CA-100), individual component reviews are dicey.

Having said that, this is one seriously good pre-amp.

At the time of purchase, I had orders a CP-35 based on what I could afford. The dealer had no inventory and the CP-50 was provided on loan. After a week, I rang the dealer and told him to cancel the order for the CP-35 as there was no way he was going to get this CP-50 back!

I then ordered the Classe' PHCP-50/60 bespoke phono stage module, which, on arrival, was retro-installed.

This combination is one serious vinyl reproduction engine!

My system certainly makes no claims to be an "ultimate" system - what it is, is a very well-balanced and synergistic combination - the sources (Theta CDT/DAC and Linn LP12/AudioTechnika AT-OC5) plus the speakers (Tannoy D700's) complement the Pre-Power combo from Classe' to produce a very listenable overall sound.

When I regularly clean out this amp/pre-amp combo with a vacuum cleaner and use Cramolyn to clean the connectors, I am always amazed by the combination of elegant layout (internally) and overall quality engineering that has produced something that sounds magnificent and will, probably, do so for as long as I remain on this green planet of ours.

Similar Products Used:

Audiolab 8000A (as pre-amp)

I had been looking for a new preamp to go with my recently purchased McCormack DNA 0.5 power amp and my Vandersteen 1C's and Vandersteen 2WQ subwoofer. Considered several different combinations, including Proceed PRE, Audio Research LS9, Aragon 28K and the Acurus RL-11. Even thought about going all the way with a Mark Levinson 380, but then reality set in and I thought better about spending that kind of money on one piece of equipment (even though it is simply amazing).
I originally heard the Classe CP-45 and was made a great offer on a little used demo unit, but after more investigation, found that the one model up, the CP-50, offered more of the features I wanted. Better still, it sounded much better.

I have now put into my system (which also includes a Rotel 865BX CD player - the next upgrade on my list) and it is wonderful. Rich, transparent, great dynamics, excellent bass that is taut but powerful, and clear highs. Maybe its the great exchange rate, as the Classe is made in Canada (Quebec to be exact), but I think it outperforms all of the units I considered, as well as several that were out of my price range. This may actually sound a bit heretic, but I think is sounds closer to the quality of the Levinson 380, than anything else I've heard. Anyway, that's my opinion, for what its worth.

In a nutshell, I couldn't be happier, and am now one step (new CD player) away from Nirvana.

I was in the market for a remote control pre-amp to replace my Sonic Frontiers SFL-1, I was looking to buy somthing from Conrad Johnson or a new Sonic Frontiers, until the salesman at a local audio store sent me home with a Classe CP-50, I had purchased a CA-200 about 8 months before so I felt this would be ok but still would like to keep in a tube pre-amp, after the weekend had passed I took the unit back and asked to take home the new Sonic Frontiers Line 1, after about three hours with the Sonic Frontiers I boxed it back up and went to see which one they would give me the best deal on, It turned out that the cost diffrence was small so I decided to match with the amp and bought the CP-50 w/phono and have been very happy with its sound and great build quality.

I originally was looking for a solid state pre-amp (or rather line stage) in the $2000 range. I auditioned the Krell KAV 250p, the Audio Research LS9, and the Classe' CP 45. The Krell was overpriced and overrated, just like the rest of the KAV series. The Audio Research was definately terrific, especially for the price. Very neutral and detailed, with just a hint of their tube pre-amp sound. The Classe', which I liked very much, was very warm and smooth, but not quite as detailed or satisfying as the Audio Research. I had decided to get the LS9 when a friend suggested I up my pre-amp budget, as it would be one of the most critical components. So I looked around. The Krell KRC-3 caught my eye. I must say that the KRC-3 is one great pre-amp, and is easily worth the $1500 premium over the lousy KAV 250p. It's expensive, but probably worth it. The Krell was, however, a bit cold for my system. When I mentioned that to the Classe' dealer, he said I should look at the CP 50 or 60. The 60 was a bit more than I could afford (of course so was the KRC-3) but the 50 I could handle. I took one home. Magic. A vast improvement over the 45. The power supply was twice th size of the 45. The dealer said the 50 was the best value in the Classe' pre-amp line, giving you a substantial improvement over the 35 and 45, yet very close in sound to the 60. It's not really fair to compare the KRC-3 to the CP 50, because the Krell is nearly $1000 more, but they both sound equally great, but in different ways. The Krell has slightly better bass extension and definition. It is also colder and more transparent. But the Classe' is smoother, warmer, very detailed, and is reminiscent (sort of) of a tube pre-amp (like the LS9). The Classe' CP 50is also a much better value.
I'm very happy with my choice. For $700, I got a much better pre-amp than the Audio Research LS9 and the CP 45. It also suits brighter or overly detailed systems better than the Krell KRC-3.

Outstanding value. Bettered only by Levinsons and a few truly expensive valve preamps. Funtionality is excellent. Sound is natural. Great dynamics, powerful bass. Great mids. Highs are not the most detailed, but still quite good.

After evaluating several preamps, I found 3 very good performers and believe that the price/performance curve is very flat beyond this point as the law of diminishing returns really kicks in. My short list included 1)the Classe CP-50, 2)Conrad Johnson PF-R, and 3) Audible Illusions Modulus 3A. While the Classe is the only solid state unit, it sounded more like the 3A than the Conrad Johnson. I found the 3a had greater depth and that seductive tube warmth, while surprisingly the Classe actually had a wider soundstage and greater detail; however, the Classe has a great remote and you can switch phase with the push of a button. Additionally, you get a pure black background from which the music jumps out when using the balanced outputs.
The PF-R is also very impressive. While quite beguiling, I do believe it leaves a sonic signature (which I found I liked quite a bit). The sense of bloom and 3D presence is greater than the other 2 units, but in the end, I had some concerns after hearing about past CJ quality problems. Either way, they are all very fine units. I would give the PF-R and CP-50 5 stars; the 3a, 4.5.

Incidentally, I found I did not care for the Krell products as they had a very flat soundstage.

Sound quality, features, build quality, remote

none

The Classe CP50 compared favorably to several other $2-3k preamps available because of its combination of sound quality, build, reputation and features. The ONLY other preamp which sounded as good was a model from BAT.

Highly recommended!

Similar Products Used:

Audible Illusions 3A, Conrad Johnson, Sonic Frontiers PRE1

3D, clean, big soundstage, very solid chassis

no power button (but this is not a problem at all)

Just bouhgt this preamp few days ago from a used dealer in san diego, hook it up to my system, and it sound fabulous, it kills my parasound PLD1100 in anyways!, i never realized i am missing something until i bought this preamp, there is more clarity and dynamics in this preamp,warm sounding too!, when i first got it, i played kenny G on my system and hell yeah! the saxophone sound is like in front of my face, clean and warm, tweeter is sweeeetttt, and bass are tight and punchy, definitely recommend this preamp to anyone, if you are looking for a dynamics clean preamp, this is the way to go, i am no audiophile person but i realized how this preamp make a difference in my system, and for VAL.R, this preamp will sound as good even without the gain and phase feature, and if you are complaining about a store that sells "B"stock unit or unit with CP45 remote, you shouldn't post it here, because this review is all about the unit it self!, and for god's sake you gave a 1 star rating, there is no way this product deserved that, it is just simply impossible.
highest rating, for value and quality!
peace!

Similar Products Used:

PLD1100