difelidi

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Value Rating
 5 of 5

Used product for
3 Months to 1 year

Visitors rate this review
3.00 of 5, 2.00 votes

Price Paid:  $3500.00

Summary:
This power amp in combination with the CP 47.5 rocked my world listening to it by chance. The rest of the set up included a Sony sacd 777 es and B&W 805 reference. As the price tag is pretty stiff, I tried to cut corners by auditioning a Rotel pre/power amp + cd set up with the B&W's. This was a very naive move..the music lost its magic. After 30 seconds I asked the salesman what had happened. Did I not listen to a simple Sony last time? Sure the amps are different too. The simple Sony appeared not to be that simple.. I had to have it. As the Rotel set up was out of the window I tried to cut corners on the amp, as the B&W were already not negotiable anymore. I selected the integrated CAP 151, thinking it should sound the same with less power. As I live in an appartment, why would I need 200 Watts. I tokk the whole package home, installed it and started listening... Of course the amp was new, but already there was too much missing. I knew I had been bitten by the sound bug..The next Monday I called the shop asking if I could return the 151 and replace it with the CP 47.5 and CA-201. I took a week for the stuff to come in, but I was allowed to keep the 151 till then. As soon as I linked up the new amps and turned it on, I knew I made the right choice. It had some sharp edges to start with, but the tight sound was amazing! Now having had a good break in, I can say that this set up is amazing in all ways. The cd player is just outstanding. The B&W give the sound of floor standers and the tightness I only know from B&W. The amps have the depth and detailing that just is tentalising to listen to every day. Even at low volumes, the complete sound stage comes to life (having young kids, this is the mostly used setting..). In summary: the amps rock, but do not forget the rest of the system. Make it a unit and you will go wild each time you hit: play.

Strengths:
power, bass, range

Weaknesses:
my back after taking it from the box

Similar Products Used:
CAP-151, the rest is not up to this level

Price Paid:  $2500.00 from Genesis Audio

Summary:
This amp marks the 4th amp in 6 months. The only amp that came close to it was the McCormack DNA-125, and I’d be using that right now if it had balanced inputs. This amp is VERY quiet. It gets out of the way and lets the music play like a good amp should. There is no distortion at low, med or high listening levels and though this amp IS on the “warm” side, it is never boomy or muddy. My listening taste varies from classical to jazz, over to rock and rap. Paired with a Classe’ 47.5 preamp, this amp suits those tastes very well. Listening to Lenny Kravitz or Miles Davis, the music comes through like the speakers are the nozzles of a giant “Music Hose”. I’m 100% convinced that this amp weighs more than the 60lbs Classe’ has in it’s specs. I’m guessing more like 125lbs. I’ll bet others will concur with this. The spade lugs on the back of the amp are the finest I’ve ever used. You can practically torque them on there with a socket wrench. This is the last amp I’ll own for quite some time. It’s got plenty of power to drive whatever speaker I can build.

Strengths:
Powerfull, detailed and has VERY nice construction.

Weaknesses:
Weight - But who moves their amp every day?

Similar Products Used:
Rotel 990BX - Adcom GFA-545 - Rotel 960BX - McCormack DNA-125

Price Paid:  $3500.00 from Toronto

Summary:
I am happy to get this amp with $3500 Can and still have 3 years guarantee with 400 hours burn in from a friend who use to be an audio consultant,(and a good monthly payment). And believe it or not they take a lot of hours to burn in. It is beautiful, sound warm and very authority, especially on my Maggie SMGc. Finally, I can hear some punch and good cleanning bass on these speakers (lower bass of these only 50hz). My basement is rubbling with Eagle-Hell frees over-Hotel California song. My maggies now sound like thousand dollars pair but they actual worth only few hundreds. Robert Michaels or any accoustic or string music are sound so great eventhough I use Denon AVR2802 as preamp and decoder and a cheap dvd Japanese as my source. I wish my job steady with this economy then I will try to get rid of those Japanese mid fi. My final upgrade would be those Maggies 1.6 qr or B&W N804 or N803 to match with this amp. Bottom line is if you are shopping for a good amp I recommended this amp or higher model. Remember give it sometime to burn in. Your music taste is romantic, accoustic (guitar, string, jazz), vocal... this amp is for you. You want something quick for your taste as rock, rap, loud, bright music... Bryston would be your choice - good guarantee, price is good. Some other Canadian made is good too such as Sim Audio (MOON), Anthem (Sonic Frontier), If you live in the State Krell, excellent but pricey, etc...Listen and judge your ears and your taste of your music. Stay away from Japanese electronics, some are quite expansive but I still consider them as mid fi. Music is not there with Jap. electronic. Honestly, I am Asian and I get so hook and impressed with their high tech, but music has changed me slowly to have a better look and stay away from their products. I write this not to put down their products but make sure others should not waste money like I did. They do give you music but those musics do not have soul.

Strengths:
Clarity, authority, look expensive, heavy. Warm sound, smooth and silky mid, soft on high. It is good for ribbon or electrostatic speakers.

Weaknesses:
Some low noise from the transformer or power source. I am still investigating. If you have the same problem pls post on your review. Greatly appreciated! Get approve from my wife, that is one of the worst when we are audio enthusiast. Young age we have freedom to buy anything we want but our income is limited or stuck with school like me. Middle age is prime time for this hobbies, income is ok to afford to get a hifi but we have to worry about kids, morgage, and big one - "wife". After that, your kids in college, morgage paid off, maybe the wives will allow for this hobbies, but you know what... we lost our hearing with our body clock...My philosophy is bring home whatever you like, then learn to enjoy listening good music on one ear the other ear let your wife nag. One good advice my friend gave me that we should always put the wife as primary and music as secondary, then we will be happy listenner!!!

Similar Products Used:
Bryston, premare, Yamaha, Denon, Linn, Sim Audio,

Price Paid:  $2000.00 from take as a part of a

Summary:
I´m an ex audiophile that changed preferences and sold a $30k jadis setup(JA-30,JS-2,JD-2,JPL,ETC). I Took the cp35 + ca201 +cdp1.5 as a part of the sale for almost $4500. I tried to keep a modest setup selling this classe units. Despite it lacks the bass power and dynamics of the tube monos ( although them are 30 watts class a) , them surprised me with warm , sweet and unfatiguing sound. Actually them gives more a tubed sound than my old tube gear and convert me in a believer again . I will keep these babies . Tested with Audio note and a JBL project everest speakers.Both are 96db SPL speakers . If you want goose bumps bass add a 24/96 converter. The soundstage is better than 3 times gear , read ML ; Jadis , etc. The mark levinson 333 gave a poor musicality performance in comparison. But I think you know that guys. Anyway an excelent value for the money new and preowned.

Strengths:
Worm and sweet. Class A Killer in sounstage.

Weaknesses:
Needs more of punch on the bass. A bit euphonic mid highs and higher octaves for purists.

Similar Products Used:
Jadis : ja-30,80's ; JS-2( 24/96) , JD-2; JPL. Mark Levinson 333. Audio note pure silver speakers and JBL Modified project everst speakers.

Price Paid:  $0.00

Summary:
I have listend to many amps at this price point (from Bryston, Mcintosh, Adcom, Crown and Krell) and this is probably the best sounding of all of them. The sound staging is tremendous and the bass is very accurate (not too boomy as previously noted.) I was most impressed with the detail in the mids. Connected this amp to a pair of Magnepan MG1.6s and I haven't heard them sing like that since they had Bryston 7Bs on them. That right there impresses me. Can't wait to hear the CA-301.

Strengths:
Detail in the Mids and Highs, build quality

Weaknesses:
Plastic peg inside the binding post is annoying to get out if you have banana plugs

Similar Products Used:
Mcintosh (various), Bryston (various), Krell, Spectal