Im very happy with my 151.The sound is very detailed
and airy with good punch
in the bass area.
I love the awsome build
quality and sheer power
in this amp.

My system

Sony CDP XA-50
QLN Signature Speakers
Harmonic tech cables

Looks great, sounded great it showroom

QUALITY CONTROL AT FACTORY

After I waited about 3 months to get my new CAP-151, after about 4 hours of playing, it would not turn back on. The dealer took the piece back and ordered a new one from Classe. I waited another 3 weeks (Classe said it was going through the testing process). The unit was reinstalled, and after one day listening, it developed a serious distortion problem at all volumes. The dealer came back and tested everything - the CAP-151 is bad again.
I think that I am finished with Classe. My dealer has been great during the entire process. They are now lending me a new unit until we decide what to replace the CAP-151 with.
My system is:
B&W Nautilus 803's
Rotel HDCD player
Transparent cables
Rotel power conditioner

Smooth sound with pace. Good build quality.

None in this price range.

Dear

Reader

Last year my wife said that the 100 pound CJ MV 100 must be removed from the living room floor. I promply called the Stereo Exchange in NYC, and took my "Tube Gear" in for trade. A sad day. Or was it?

They said that the Classe CAP 151 was a great product for my "Tube" taste. I properly fired up this well made piece of Canadian audio gear, and was surprised.

This product is smooth and has excellent pace. Below is my impression of the CAP 151.

Top. Very smooth and extended. Not in the same league as the Krell PAM 3 and KSA 100, but close.

Mid. Very smooth. Not in the same league as the CJ PV 12/MV 100. The CAP 151 "Does" sound like tube gear in this area.

Low. Deep. Not in the same league as the ML 9, but close.

In a nutshell, the CAP 151 is a smooth sounding product that is built very well. It works well on Jazz and classical. It is a little too polite for Rock, but does a nice job on this type of music.

If you are looking spend $2,500 US on an Amp and Pre-Amp, then please give the Classe CAP 151 a listen. It is not perfect, but it crushes the ML 383 or the Krell 300i.

This is one of Audio's great deals. Below is a list of associated equipment.

Yamaha CDR-S1000
Monster Cable M 1000i
Tandberg TT 3011A
Monster Cable M 950i
Classe CAP 151
Mission 772
Target 24" (Lead Filled)
Monster Cable 2.4
Velodyne CT 100
Monster Cable SW400

The after mentioned products are not state of the art, but are quite respectable.

P.S. Please listen to the CAP 151 with the B&W 805's. This speaker works very well with the CAP 151.

Similar Products Used:

CJ PV 12/CJ MV 100

The CAP 151 in my current set is the closest I have been to true sound. I have NHT 2.5i speakers, Rotel RCD 971 source and Transparent speaker cable and interconnects. When I close my eyes I feel as if I am at a live performance. I auditioned this set against Krell 300i/Arcam Alpha 9 and Krell 300i/Dynaudio Audience 60. Both exhibited good sound but it seemed too direct and not as real. Soundstaging was not as good. The symbols ( a key indicateor for me) did not have the realism that my current set has. No matter how high the volume goes it is aways sweet and true. Krell/Arcam had detail for details sake but not as much musicality. I never feel that the sound needs to be turned down with Classe. This happened on the others. The remote is a delight. The bass is realistic in pitch and power. Detail is awesome buit not at the expense of musicality. This is a very musical sound. Sometimes I'm unable to analyze the sound because I get lost in the music.
I listen primarily to jazz. The final straw was the comparison of the auditioned systems to a Diana Krall concert that I attended recently. My system sounded like Diana Krall. The others added or took away. What are other thoughts on this component. Lastly, the system came in under $4500. Five stars!

Aesthetic, features, sturdiness;

bloated midbass, not linear frequency response, slow;

Surely an Sturdy gear, but sound performance are weakly in many aspects; the Cap 100 was better.

Similar Products Used:

Bryston B60, Anthem Integrated2, Pathos Classic One, Classe Cap 100

lots of clean power, can drive any speakers

20 delay when power on

This is an awesome integrated amp. I've compared to krell 300i. Against the krell, the classe is a much more musical amp. Although, the krell has a more authoritative bass, it lacks the classe's sweet mid and highs.

It comes with a solid milled aluminum remote, and all around construction is top notch high quality.

Highly recommended.

20 second warmup

Full control, beautiful sound, this is the best integrated amplifier I have ever had the pleasure to own.
Matched with Newform 630's, an Audiomeca Mephisto II CD transport, an Oracle turntable and a Bel Canto DAC 1, this combination of looks and sonic bliss are breathtaking. And at the heart of it all is Classe.

Similar Products Used:

Luxman, Krell, Accuphase, other Classe's

Bold and pleasant sound .... approaches a tube sound nicely
Nice remote functions

Very sweet matched with a pair of Newform 630's. Open and balanced sound that's good for all but the heaviest of rock/metal. The soundstage is exquisite. For an integrated, this is a tough act to beat. Highly recommended!!!

Build and smooth sound.

Lack's the bass of the big iron from Krell and ML.

Second Review

During the last six months I have upgraded my system in various areas, and the CAP 151 has remained my foundation piece.

Below are my latest findings.

Top. World class. The top-end is extended and open, but it does not give you the last bit of detail like a Krell or Spectral. The CAP 151 provides the listener with a great deal of smooth top-end information. Rating B+

Mid. World class. Smooth and natural. This is a budget product that plays in high-end audio, but it does not have the midrange bloom of the CJ gear. The CAP 151 provides the listener will an open and enjoyable midrange. Rating B+

Low. Good, but not world class bass.It does not carry the "Slam" of the Krell or ML gear. The power supply is on the small side, which accounts for the lack of bass. The CAP 151 provides average to above average bass. Rating B

In a nustshell, the Classe CAP 151 is a fine sounding and well built product. Listed below is my current audio system.

Yamaha CDR-S1000
Monster M 1000i
Classe CAP 151
Monster M 2.2s
Vienna Bach

The Classe may be one of the best current values in audio. While not perfect, it does offer the listener will a smooth and natural sound. Classe has a winner, and the CAP 151 will go down in audio history as classic piece of gear.

Similar Products Used:

CJ PV 12/MV 100

Smooooth, but crisp. Good well controled bass. Very nice definition at low volumes

none for a high end integrated

Rotel 971 taught me that you can have nice definition and dynamics at low volumes. I had some 15 year old killer KEF 103.2 speakers that needed only a decent amp to sing. Ignored for at least eight years while I played around with HT. Powered by Phase Linear 400 and Yamaha seperates on different occasions, the KEFs like their watts. There must be all kinds of watts cause they have never sounded half as good. Around Xmass I decided to create a seperate two channel system. All I need now is the Arcam CD92 that's been on order for a month. I heard a Krell 300i, but it was too harsh on treble and midrange wasn't that nice. Amost went tube, but this Classe' is so close to Cary, why spend more and have tube hassles. Plinius is nice, but $1000 more at used/ demo prices.Mine is a rare all black with phono.

Similar Products Used:

Yamaha , Rotel and NAD integrateds