Classe CAM 350 monoblock vs Classe CAM-400 or Bryston 4B3

The soap opera is never over. The Classe dealer is now answering his phone but he no longer sells Classe.

 

He would like me to listen to McIntosh MC312 which gets great reviews, but he doesn’t have any Magnepan 3.7i speakers to mate up with them.

 The McIntosh MC312 actually gets rave reviews for being rewarding to listen to at conversational levels of volume. It would not fit on the unmovable shelf under my TV.

 Then I am reminded that the McIntosh MC462 is only $1000 more and perhaps better fitting my power requirements?

 I was warned that McIntosh owners are cult members and that McIntosh was not as good as Pass Labs or Classe for the same money.

 I am still keeping an open mind, looking for a little direction here because for me $8,000 is a whole lot of money.

@ Mike_in_NC

It has been frustrating trying to get anything done.  I have a local dealer who sells Magnepan, Bryston and McIntosh. I would love to listen to both Bryston 4B3 and McIntosh (MC312 or MC462) drive my MG-3.7i speakers but after maybe 6 calls yesterday he called back this morning to say he was open for someone else but not for me.

 He didn’t sell me the $7,500 Magnepan speakers either; he made a mess out of that as well.

 I have no education in culinary arts, but I have had family who made a grand living as professional taste testers.  Fact is I can taste things in food many others can not. In the same way I can hear nuances in music some other folks may not notice. Exactly what you recommend is exactly what I would prefer.  Listen and make up your own mind and Lord knows I would have an opinion.

 You are the second individual who is not too impressed with the Magtech, I don’t have an opinion but I respect yours. I know Wendell loved the old Bryston and the Bryston 4B3 is much better than what the old Bryston 4B stuff. I think I should place some credence on Wendell’s opinions?

 I had a deal with a Bryston that somehow fell through?  If that deal can be resurrected a used Bryston 4B3 would could me almost $2,000 less than a new Sanders.

 There are still a few Classè amps on Audiogon; a pair of CA-M350 mono-blocks, and pair of newer CA-M400 mono-blocks but they were new in 2007. I am temped. I know what they sound like but I have issues with their age, location and Classé’s service in the future.

 Road blocks at every turn, after all the drama somehow, Lord willing, this will all work out for the best.

thank you sgmsmg, I have messaged you directly
Timothy Wright

@ GeorgeHiFi

 

I have never actually listened to either the Parasound Halo A21+ or the Bryston 4B3. I am trying to arrange that now.

 I don’t have an informed opinion.  At best I have uninformed concerns as follows:

 The Parasound Halo A21+ is rated 500 wpc 4Ω (which I like) costs $2995, however THD is rated <.1% which does not impress me. The amp I am replacing has THD <0.005%

 I also know that Parasound runs hot as hell at my listening levels.

 The Halo JC1+ mono-blocks cost $8,495 each which at $17,000 for the pair puts them out of my price range. The Halo JC1 (no +) is an older and inferior to the Plus and still cost $5000 used. It does spec much better.

 The Bryston 4B3 in contrast MSRP is $5695, almost double the Halo A21+ ; about 1/3 the MSRP of Halo JC1+. So one can not fairly compare three items of such vastly different costs.  Suffice it to observe the Bryston spec much better than the A21+. And I can find 4 late model Bryston 4B3 on Audiogon right now.

 The halo + items are newly introduced; I could only find those for sale at a dealer for full price.

I think I may foresee a Sanders Magtech in my future.

I have been performing a little research. The Classè heat issue still concerns me with my modest abode.  I can listen to music for hours at a time and Classè amps operating over that length of time could make my listening room uncomfortable.

Today I found a black Bryston 4B3 power amp for only $3575 on Echohifi.com. Black will match the rest of my rack. This unit is only 2 years old and in “9” condition. S&H will cost me an additional $119 but this will total cost $1,000 to $1,500 less then either pair of Classè monoblocks which were at least 10-15 years old. The difference in money concerns me less than the significant heat issue which I have experienced myself.

I expect I can manage to get by with “only” 500 wpc into 4 Ω which is a small step up from 350 wpc into 4 Ω. I will have three days to decide once I take possession.  I could be annoyed, not at anyone here at audiogon.  If I can buy from a dealer in Oregon but my local shop has not answered my phone call for at least a month. Had he at least returned my phone call and told me what Classè amps he had in stock I would probably own one of those instead.

Those monstrous Classè monoblocks do radiate a presence in a bachelor’s home, some evidence of commitment and grander, and contempt for all WAF issues.  One could put two of them together with a dog bed on top and keep several greyhounds very happy all winter long. I can admit that I was tempted but in the last analysis only impressing oneself does not amount to much.  Better to own something I can live with.

I’ll need at least six XLR cables of reasonable quality. I have some on order from Cable Matters. I may yet replace my Rotel RC-1590 preamp with a tube amp given the opportunity. I looked into music service streaming DACs but I suspect none will sound better than my 54,000 flac files ripped from 4,000 CDs.

I would like to thank all who were so generous with their advice and encouragement.

You may be correct on Classe over Bryston. For me matching color is minor. The determining factor is the heat.  If I will not use something because they make my home unlivable than no sense paying $4,900 for it.

I have an angel who lives on my right shoulder (Thanks be to God).  The Bryston 4B3 was on consignment and the owner of title does not want to ship the Bryston power amp cross country. Call it divine providence.  So the deal fell through.  I am not out a dime.

There is a local owner of a pair of Classe' Audio CAM 400 monoblock speakers who I expect (Lawd willin') will let me try the pair in my own listening room.   If I can avoid S&H, sales tax and demo in my own home I'll be a happy puppy.  That will cost $1,300 more than plan "A" but if it does not burn down the house with BTUs I know I can live with the Classe sound.

So I may yet own a set of Classe monoblocks. As long as I don't worship them it will not break the first commandment.  (joke)

Last night I called Sanders in Colorado and ordered a Magtec which should arrive next Monday about dinner time.  It has been a circus, the Classé dealers is no longer selling Classé. The local Bryston- McIntosh - Magnepan dealer is “kind of” open but not for me.  A long distance Bryston deal went bad.

I should interject that the Bryston deal was with EchoHiFi.com in Portland OR and in my experience they were not forthright and square with neither me nor the consignee. Specifically I was told my debt card was declined when it was never tried and that the consignee had changed his mind when in truth he was never contacted.

 I am looking forward to listening to my Magtec. I read on Audioasylum that perhaps I should have considered a power amp with a Hypex or a NC1200 board and saved a lot of money. There is a guy who lives a half hour drive away selling a nord acoustic on audiogon. I offered he bring it over so I can listen and I’d pay cash. He told me doesn’t deliver, or take cash. But he was desperate to sell and wanted $750 over MSRP?

 In contrast Sanders could not have been any better to do business with.  I already went into CorelDraw and sketched out a wiring diagram. Unexpectedly at Sanders it was recommended that I preferentially use the unbalanced connectors.

 And thank you to all for their gracious assistance.

I have been having fun with my Magtech since about 9am, my cleaning lady was here today and we have similar taste in music, she actually likes her music a little louder than I do.  She is incapable of sitting and critically listening to music, she has to get up and dance to the music.  It reminds me of my Columbian GF of a few years ago. Play a samba or mombo and you could swear someone put something in her drink; they should wear a disclaimer or require an OSHA sign.

 

This is more of a preliminary impression than a premature review.  The 900 wpc is useful even at 70% volume. The bass is quick and has more impact than I remember.  I attribute that to endless reserves of Magtech. I can’t fault the clarity. I was listening to the first note of Louie- Louie from Clark-Duke Project and my 95# black lab was doing his lap dog treatment. On the first note of Louie- Louie Alleluia jumped up startled and looked at me like what the hell was that?  With the Yamaha M2 power amp I was wonder if a DWM bass panel or two might help; now I know it would not be helpful with the Magtech amp diving the Magnepan 3.7i. I have a bass to be reckoned with, not excessive but authoritative.  With the proper power amp I don’t see the 3.7i ever needing a DWM.

 It has been fun, I may need to reposition my speakers, not sure which way and for what yet. I would like a better stage presence or imaging. I suspect that is nothing to do with the Magtech power amp. A tube pre-amp to replace the Rotel RC-1590 might be something worth trying.

 60-70% on my pre amp is conversational level; low to mid 70s % volume is where I find myself doing critical listening. 80% is damn loud, rude loud (120+ dBa). I’ve not ventured much above that. I read using the balanced connectors would give me 3dBa more volume but I don’t know why I would need it.

 I need to spend more time critical listening at low levels, background music volume as when I am reading or focused on a jigsaw puzzle. What is clear so far is the Magnepan-Magtech combination does not need to be cranked up to perform.