I just installed a CAP 151 and am extremely pleased with its depth, warmth, clarity. It is very easy to listen to for extended periods of all types of music. The soundstage is wide; the bass is clear and clean; vocals are just terrific (Celine Dion; Pavoratti, e.g.). And the price is really right. I can't yet say whether I miss the tone controls. And I believe that when the equipment breaks in, I will extol it even more.

I purchased this new from a local dealer at the end of June. I have to say I am very pleased with this integrated amp. I auditioned both the Classe CAP-150 and the Krell integrated, choosing the Classe. The Krell had a better bottom end impact, but the soundstage was too agressively forward and too, too TIGHT. Maybe great if you listen primarily to rock music, but really annoying for classical. Don't get me wrong: the Classe has a lot of punch too, especially for transients. As far as I'm concerned, a clear winner over the Krell. The Classe is smooth and musical through the entire range, and is a great value for the money, especially given the Canadian - U.S. exchange rate. Because the new Classe model (the CAP-151) just came out, I got a 20% discount on the "old" CAP-150. If you check the specs for both models, they're identical: the only difference is the faceplate color and a nicer, full function remote. I don't know about you, but I can skip the "nicer" remote for a $400 difference in price! If you audition one, make sure it's had the recommended 300 hour burn-in period. The Classe is definitely a class act. Highly recommended. Four speakers overall, because there are better (and more expensive) amplifiers out there. It deserves five speakers when the criteria are performance, quality, and price level.
My system:

Classe CAP-150 integrated amplifier
California Labs Tercet Mk III CD player
B&W 802 Matrix Series II speakers
JPS Labs Ultraconductor interconnect
Tara Labs "Q" speaker cable

price-performance ratio, transparency, midrange purity

none, doesn't do surround sound???

Excellent sound for the money, even at full list. Simply put, it's so musical I forget about the equipment and just listen to the music. I've had thousands of dollars of equipment go through my system and this one is a definite keeper. I compared it to the classe separates, the CP-45 preamp and CA-150 amp, which together cost at least twice as much, but overall, I thought the CAP-150 integrated sounded purer and more musical. Don't get me wrong, the bass was more extended with the separates, but other than that, the integrated just sounded better. I got a great deal on it used but it would still be a bargain at full retail, based on what's out there.

Similar Products Used:

Krell integrated, Classe separates, McCormack DNA 0.5 Deluxe

Transparency, dynamics, and overall musicality

slight lower mid/upper bass bump.....not all that noticable, and definitely not a distraction
Remote is limited to volume and mute

Musically robust and dynamic...sharing its sound with the highly touted CAP100, only a bit beefier. Great for all kinds of musical programming. Drives most speakers with ease. Soundstage, image, and lack of solid state harshness put this integrated into class above the rest. Optional internal phono stage is wonderful for the vinyl heads out there. Of the three integrated listed above that I have owned, this one wins without compromise....in the following order. Since the line has changed over, this is a steal!!

1. Classe CAP150....ample power and dynamics, soundstage is VERY NICE and fairly wide, transient attack is nice
2. Classe CAP100....less power with similarites to above
3. Sim Audio Moon I-5....even less power, but nice transient attack. Requires separate external phono stage which means more rack space used...(BOO!)
4. Krell 300i....more bass slam, but less adaptable to all music types....ie. acoustic, classical, even quiet jazz, due to its sometimes stringent presentation. More $$$ (BOO)

Current system:

Classe CAP150
Yamaha TX950 Tuner....the best they have ever made!!!
Electrocompanient EMC1 24/96 High Resolution CD Player with balanced interconnects
Mirage OM7 Omnipolar Speakers
MIT Terminator 4 BiWire cables
Denon 47F Turntable w/ Shure VMR Cartridge
Pioneer CDW-555 CD Writer...for transfer of unreleased CD favorites from vinyl
Sony TC 909ES Cassete Deck.....Magnificent recordings with Dolby S
Shunyata Power Snakes
Various brands of interconnects

Similar Products Used:

Krell 300i, Classe CAP100 with phono stage, Sim Audio Moon I-5

The sound of course.Clean functional design,quality components,ability to separate the pre from power stage.Very solid chassis.

At this price point I think the speaker binding posts could have been better quality(since replaced by WBT's).An extra tape loop would have been nice also.

This amp has great musicality,the dynamics still amaze me,even after a year of ownership.It drives my current hungry Dynaudio Contour 2.8's with no problems.For a 150 watt per channel integrated nothing compares,not even the highly reviewed Krell(very over rated in my opinion - very harsh compared to the smoothness of the Classe.
If you want a powerful,value for money integrated,with a potential upgrade path,audition one(recently replaced by the CAP 151 - exactly the same except for a more functional remote control and faceplate with LED display).
I am still amazed by the detailing,soundstaging and dynamics - it's great to be able to close your eyes and say the lead guitarist is there the sax player is beside him and the vocals are in the middle etc.In other words detailing in spades.

Similar Products Used:

Sony's,Denon's,Technics,Krell,Myryad.