2. amps-preamps
  3. 1104208392

Classe CA-M400 or Theta Digital Enterprise?

I am looking to replace my MBL 8011s amplifier. It's a rather musical sounding amp but in my system I am looking for something a bit more dynamic. I don't want an amp that is analytical but at the same time I feel as though the system as a whole is "holding back" a bit. I am considering either the new Classe monoblocks or the TD monoblocks as possibilties.

As a point of reference, the rest of my system consists of Jeff Rowland Coherence II/Cadence phono, Exemplar/Denon 2900, Teres Audio 265 table. Cabling is all liquid ceramic cables from Cerious Technologies. Speakers are a new design from Bob Grost, formerly of Unity Audio. It is a 4 piece system called the Cerious Ceramic Reference and is more or less a replacement to the Unity Audio PARM system.

Michael Fremer gave the Enterprise amps a rather mixed review skewed in the negative direction but other than that I haven't found any reviews. The Classe amps seem to be too new to have any published reviews.

Are there any A-goners out there that have heard these amps and care to characterize them? Any other suggestions?

Ken Golden
lasercd

Showing 2 responses by lasercd

lasercd OP
50 posts
 
Worldcat:

Thanks for the response - I see from your system you are a Theta Digital fan! I think the Citadels are out of my range. Price wise they are right in my zone. How would you characterize the sound of the Enterprise?

Last question...have you heard the new Classe monoblocks? My undertanding is the sound characteristics are a bit different than their recent designs.

Ken Golden
lasercd OP
50 posts
 
Tom:

I need (well maybe not the right word) to run fully balanced. My understanding is the Edge amps only run single ended so I've ruled them out from the get go. Heard they sound nice though.

I'm not sure that Fremer is so much of a tube kind of a guy to be honest. I think his reference amp is solid state. I just think the Enterprise didn't rock his world the way the Citadel did so the review came out mixed. He's one of the few reviewers that I actually pay attention to but that doesn't stop me from putting it high up on my need-to-audition list. Considering the people behind the design of the TD amps it's got great parentage.

I will be at CES and I will listen...

Ken Golden
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