Well this week end was most interesting to say the least. Several people showed to audition the Acoustat Model 2 speakers.
Not wanting to dismantle my main system for this audition I used the Classe 70 Amp, Marsh P 2000 PreAmp and the Classe CDP .5 CD Player. Used the standard factory supplied power cords with each unit. The interconnects were the old Golden-ens(remember those?) for PreAmp to Power Amp. CD interconnects to Pre Amp were just standard Sony issue I had here,never used. Speaker wire was the Original Monster Cable from about 1982 or so. Basically just to show the Acoustats worked for the prospective buyer. Had the Acoustat Model 2 plugged in for about 3 days to help stabilize them. Usually takes 7 days for the transformers to really come on line.
What ensued was quite remarkable, even as jaded as I am, was taken aback. First I did not expect the Classe 70 to be really able to handle the Acoustat load. Acoustats have a widely varying ohm load and are quite reactive. Takes a very special amp to handle Acoustats. Before the first customer arrived fired up this system and was totally amazed at the ease the Classe 70 was driving the venerable Acoustats and at very loud levels at that. Oh well perhaps a little prejudice here, the real test is the customer response to this system.
First gentleman to arrive had brought his own amp and speaker cables to audition with the Acoustats. After hearing what I was playing, decided it was a moot point to bring in his amp. Which was far costlier and very high end to boot. I left him to his own devices as he had brought many CDs he wanted to evaluate on the Acoustats. He spent well over two hours here. He just couldn't get over the sonic signature he had been hearing. Kept saying seamless,liquid and detail he had not heard before. And was totally floored when he as informed no special cable or interconnects and 22 year old monster cable. He had admitted visting several high end stores locally and had heard nothing that came even close to this.
Next person came over with his amp and once again decided just to audition the CDs he brought along. His amp was an Audio Research D120 recenlty back from AR service. The result was very much the same as with the first person,totally amazed at what he had heard. I think his wife opposed the Acoustats due to their size and room decor. Who knows I think he will be back.
Third person over was a gentleman from a very well respected name in High End Audio, although I did not know this until he handed me his card at the end of the day. This was not the usual audition, he really knew his way around high end gear. Totally examined the entire system, ask what power cords, interconnects, speaker wire, any mods to the Classe or Marsh or Classe CD Player, told him all stock out of the box units. He made the comment that he would not have belived the Classe 70 could power the Acoustats let alone produce the signature that it produced.And noted that the Classe heat sinks were quite warm but one could leave there hand there without discomfort. He as well had brought a lot of CDs to audition so I left him to indulge. As a last request he wanted me to open remove the top of the Classe 70 amp so he could have a look inside. Oh well what the hell, complied with his wish. Remove the top, he examined so closely that i thought he was going to climb inside. You're right he said, factory stock, no mods. This is a most remarkable system here. I almost do not believe what I am hearing. Plus the stock cords,cables, and speaker wire! He informed me who he was and that this was one of the top five systems he had ever heard-period! This coming from who he was totally stunned me. Lets face it I literally threw this together just to audition the Acoustat Model 2 I wanted sell.
So here's the dilemma is the Classe 70 really that good or is it the combination of components? This is the first time I have put the Classe 70 to the Acoustat Model 2 and must say it does sound fabulous, much better than I had ever thought it would. I wasn't interested in selling the entire system, so that may have been the reason they haven't sold as of yet.
At this point may very well keep the system. To say the least a most interesting week end. The Classe 70 performed far above my expectations, and I already like the Classe 70 very much indeed, but this has been a total eye opener for me.
