Classe CP-35 pre and Classe in general

Thanks for that response! By the way, my speakers are Celestion S-300s, the only parts of my current system that I plan to keep long-term.

Jeff,

Thank you for that reply!

This is really a lame answer, but if truth be known, my main reason for sticking with a single vendor has been to get a nice remote that operates all pieces. I realize there are third-party remotes, but I'd wanted to avoid them for various reasons (cost, confusing to use). Maybe I should start a second thread asking for experiences on that score. Also I think I was hoping to simplify my choices in add-on pieces.

Do you have any feedback on the CP-35 in particular? I realize my own ears are the judge, and I find I do hear differences between the different levels of equipment, but haven't seriously listened to anything else in this range, and want to be sure this entry-level unit isn't the "bad apple" of the Classe line, and to be sure I shouldn't be trying to increase my buget (again).

Do you have any experience with the optional Classe phono stage, compared to reasonably priced (say $500 or so) external phono stages? This option is definitely a "plus" for me.

Two other "feature" hesitations I have about the Classe pre-amp:

-- Not many inputs. I was hoping for 6 rather than 5. Like headphone jacks, this seems to be something high-end units drop. The tape input (one of the 5) won't be as useful, in that with the headphone setup as you described I won't be able to listen to the tape input over headphones (I assume). This might be stupid, but I was thinking of using splitters to connect more than one device to a single input. Then just take care to make sure that only one is turned on at a time! Do I risk equipment damage or poor sound quality?

-- Not sure that this unit could fit into a home theater system (this is not important to me at all now, but never say never, I guess). Two-channel "home theatre" would be fine for me, if there's a way to just feed stereo from a DVD disc to the pre-amp without losing sound content.

-- Looks. I think the mixed black and silver is odd. I would prefer one or the other. But I don't care.

Every step up I've taken so far in the shopping process has been an improvement. This is the best so far, but it's in a different league than I listened to before (sort of the bottom of high-end, I guess, rather than "mid-fi").

It's good to hear the company is solid. I'm mainly considering this particular equipment because the local dealer that carries it has treated me so well (especially considering I came in looking for a $500 receiver originally). I had never heard of Classe before. Since then I have read everything I can find. I will post praise for the dealer elsewhere on this site, but for anyone in Vermont, it's Audio-Video Authority in South Burlington.

Other choices in town that are actually available to listen to are Rotel (the same dealer has it, I have "moved up" with the Classe audition), NAD (I listened to their lower-end stuff and didn't like it, mushy, dark, their high-end separates are not available for local listening), Arcam (I eliminated their top-end integrated because it doesn't image well), Cambridge Audio (too bright, good value on the lower end though), Parasound (only the low-end pre-amp is available to listen to, sounds a lot like the Rotel, good, but bass-heavy and not as refined), Adcom (the higher-end CP-750 pre-amp is available to listen to, I may try it based on comments here, I listened only to the low-end before), Acurus (I like it really well, but thought it would be harsh to listen to long-term, and some music doesn't sound good through it), Marantz and Myryad integrateds (both nice, but I fear not enough power for my speakers and room). McIntosh, Bryston (same good dealer), Conrad-Johnson, and Audio Refinement are available, but out of my league, I think. Anyway, I don't think you needed to know any of that -- unless you happen to have compared the Classe pre-amp to the Adcom CP-750, which is probably the only thing on that list I will think about auditioning "against" the Classe.

I will definitely buy local.

Thank you again. As I have perused the "board," I really appreciate the time you and others have put into answering questions here.

Very helpful posts.

- Has anyone used the optional Classe phono stage and care to comment? I will buy it unheard.
- Has anyone compared the CP-35 with the Adcom GFP-750?

Nilthepill, It sounds like you prefer the CP-45 over the CP-50 -- do you also prefer the sound of the CP-45 over the CP-35? What vintage was your CP-35 (they were revamped about 6 years ago as I understant it). Unfortunately, my dealer doesn't have one of the higher-end Classe pre-amps on hand for me to demo.

Bob, How cool that you have been to AV Authority! Ron and Chris have been great. I saw in another post that you were wondering about other Hi-end audio places in Vermont. I do think AV is the best overall, but there are other good ones:

Sound Essentials is on the waterfront by the bike path. Check his website at www.soundessentialsvt.com. Chris (different Chris) has been in business for less than a year, he is a one-man show and is very committed and eager for business. He has a real job, so his hours are kind of odd, but actually easier for a working person. He will schedule times to work with you when he's not normally open, so you'll have the place to yourself. At the lower to middle end (below $3000), he only stocks integrated amps (NAD, CA, Arcam, Audio Refinement) because he believes they give better bang for the buck than sep. On the higher end, he has a bunch of tube gear from VTL and Audio Research. For speakers, I believe it's ARC. He is a big vinyl fan, as well as CDs. He is a freak for cables and gadgets (pucks, CD pens, power cords, speaker and interconnect cables, you name it), and will come to your house to demo stuff (I dunno about Woodstock, though). In the end, his stuff didn't work for me -- the integrated stuff was too low-end, and the high-end stuff was too expensive and high-maintenance (but may be perfect for you, given that you are way ahead of me in your current setup). Nice guy, though a little more sales-y than AV Authority (you can't get much more relaxed than AV). He is upfront about discounting most everything about 10% or a little more off list, which is refreshing. His listening room is small, making it hard for me to judge how things would sound in my (larger) room.

Butternut Audio in Essex (Susie Wilson Road) is run by Tom, former head repair guy for the Audio Den, from which all these other places spun off when it closed down years ago. I don't think they have a website -- their number is 802-879-3900. I would definitely go to Tom for repair on anything out of warranty. He's very knowledgeable about all kinds of things audio. He's not a very good salesperson though, in that he almost seems to not want to sell you stuff (this has it's own charm of course). I had to visit there twice before I could convince him that I really wanted something higher-end than a receiver. When I finally picked something I wanted to home demo, I couldn't take it home because he was expecting someone to come in to listen to it shortly; he took my number but never called me, although I was clearly serious (I brought my own speakers to listen to in the store). Talk about laid-back! At the low end (and for home theatre), he sells mainly Marantz, including some pretty fancy AV receivers, and a nice $1200 integrated 60WPC amp that must weight about 40 pounds. Low-end separates are Parasound, and he has Conrad-Johson at the high-end. Speakers are PSB and Magneplanar (I believe). Sells Rega Planet CD player, and some very high-end speaker and interconnect cables (which AV Authority is weak on, if you're into that sort of thing -- I would guess they work if Tom sells them). Nice listening room. Tom has easily the best (well, only, as far as I know) selection of used gear in the area, and prices it fairly. I bought used speakers and CD player there years ago.

Finally, there's Creative Sound at Tafts Corners (actually "Blair Park" in Williston. They're at 802-878-5368. I dealt with an owner (you may want to ask for roger or Chris) there recently, and that was pleasant, but for the most part nobody you talk to there knows anything (including prices of high-end gear). Their staff is young and mainly focussed on car audio. That's too bad, because they have some nice stuff. Low-end is Yamaha (which is nice low-end, to my ears). They have Acurus and Adcom in the middle, also nice sounding gear (well, I didn't like the cheaper Adcom stuff, but I understand their better pre-amp is nice, and I did like the Acurus). The high end is Mcintosh. They have a variety of speakers, including Polk, KEF, and Vandersteen. They are very good about lending you demo gear to take home. They just built a new building and seem willing to deal on stuff that's in stock.

You mentioned that you have Bryston amps in combo with your Classe pre-amp. Which ones, and how much? I will probably eventually step up to either the Classe or the Bryston power amps (around 150wpc) -- I assume you made that comparison? AV has no Bryston in stock currently, so I have not.

Sorry for the long post. I hope that info on Vermont audio stores is helpful, email me if I can help.

OK, this is off-topic, but:
Last Chance is gone, check out Vermont Pub and Brewery downtown for a good brewpub -- next block up from Carbur's, which still has 200 (or however many) beers available. It's hard to lament Service Merchandise -- anyhow, they've dropped their electronics business altogether, just jewelry and lawn chairs anymore. No loss.

email if you're going to be in town!