Review: Classe Audio 70 Amplifier

Tnadu: You asked, "But come on, comparing the Seventy to mass-market receivers?"

What I said above: "...I'm guessing it would still beat many mass-market receivers around the price it goes for used in terms of fulless and body." Well, so would a Krell monoblock - why do you take this to be some sort of slam?

You also said, "You might want to be a little more sure of Classe's history of design before posting." You then go on to say essentially the same thing I wrote in my post, which is that the lead designer for the Seventy was not the same guy as for the DR series or their current offerings - a point I raised in response to Bigbry's post, who's somewhat careless inference about Classe in general (true as his reporting may be for him personally) you also took exception to. Although I had forgotten GG's name since I owned the amp, again, just what is it about my words that you're attempting to call out here?

As to your supposition that I'm simply a tube kinda guy who'll never like SS, I wrote: "This makes me wonder whether I could ever be happy with relatively inexpensive SS sound (something I haven't attempted to survey)." That is as honest and open a statement of my position on the question as I can fathom a way to write. Sure, I like tubes, but that doesn't mean I like just any tubed amplifier. By the same token, don't read more than is there into my wondering about affordable SS - a few of the most accomplished amps I have ever auditioned were solid-state. For instance, I have no reason not to think that Classe's top offerings of today might not surpass the tubed amps I currently use in many ways - indeed quite possibly in all ways - but I don't know from personal experience, which is why I didn't attempt some sort of definitive pronouncement on the relative merits of the two technologies (and would never presume to do so). Rather, my musings were simply a logical extension of Ferrari's finding that he liked the little Classe better than many of the budget (used, I'll assume) SS contenders he's owned/auditioned and listed as such, which by implication might mean I would prefer my budget C-J over them by an even wider margin than I did with the Seventy. But I made sure to qualify that sentiment with my parenthetical statement that I had not surveyed all the competition, and by noting that Ferrari and I seem to hear differently regarding the Seventy's merits and shortcomings anyway.

Tubes vs. SS wasn't the point of my posts, but I felt that readers should be provided with some sort of context about where my comments were coming from. Please don't try to hang me for being forthcoming - all I'm interested in good sound, not which method one prefers to get there. I will happily affirm that the Seventy will beat out any similarly-priced (new) tube amp I know of in terms of bass slam and weight, although not necessarily overall bass musicality (I found its bass wasn't as open - didn't 'breathe' or 'flow' as well and wasn't as transparent - as I might have liked, and tended to somewhat overshadow the amp's mids and trebles in a way that detracted from its overall coherence). My main point wasn't that the amp was terrible, but that I had a different take on it, and have never understood exactly where its apparently persistent lofty reputation comes from. Obviously, I think it is possible to do much better for not a lot more money on the used market.

You call my posts "sad", ask what the point of my writing them is, and conclude that "...it is just critical of what another member has found to be excellent...". All I can say is that Ferrari himself seems to have no such qualms about my contributions, which I can assure you are just as honestly reported as I'm sure his or yours are. You seem to think that I, or anybody with a divergent take, ought to self-censor before posting anything negative following a positive review in an open forum. Now, *that's* sad!

High end at best is a subjective endeavour. And yes we all hear sounds different from each other. After all we are human and we all are subject to our environment we have moved in. Based upon this initial review I find nothing I can carp on. I owned a 70 for many years and would not hesitate to recommend this amplifier to anyone seeking fine music reproduction. Based upon the products that were listed as similiar products, I would find this to be a very good base in recommending the 70. After all Ferrari has been at this far longer than I have and that probably goes for about 90 percent of the membership here. That alone speaks volumes.

I have since moved further upstream in audio, but the Classe 70 remains a fond memory. Thanks for the review.

Good to see there is still some spirited debate here. You're right we all have subtle differences in audible perception. The whole point of this is the music, remember the fundamentals... straight wire with gain. The exhausting pursuit of that live performance being realized right in our own living rooms. Well I must say the Classe 70 succeeds in spades in these crucial areas. I never had the pleasure of owning one, but my close friend does. And it is with great humility that I must bow my head and admit defeat. The Classe 70 blows the pants off my Krell KSA 300 S, and I've owned many other fine amplifiers like Sonic frontiers, Cary, Audio Note, Spectral, Mark Levinson, YBA, Conrad Johnson and far too many more. And Please stop with the tubes. Be honest with yourselves, how long did it take you to adjust to that tube sound... 6 monthes... a year, I never did! Exagerated mid's, rolled off highs, they can have em. The only real experience that has become important to me is how MUSICAL and INVOLVING the amplifier is. I'm sorry to say to Zaikesman,who said "Easily able to surpass the sound of the Classe 70". Not a chance!! You're talking to a previous owner of a DR 2. And yes... The 70 beats the beasty DR 2 as well. I won't even respond to Bigbry's comments. Once in a while, along comes an amplifier like the CJ Premier 5,Mark Levinson ML 2's, Spectral DMA 180, Mac MC 240, Pass Labs Aleph 0, and so on that gets it right! Classe got the 70 right. That's why everybodies talking about it here, that's why I've seen a couple of fellow audiophiles almost cry after selling theirs, and thats why there highly sought after. Congradulations Ferrari you now own one of the most musical amplifiers in the world...Bar none!!

Fascinating. Maybe I should've held onto mine and sold it for the big bux after everybody reads this thread... :-)

As I alluded to above, it had been a long time since I'd had a solid-state amp in here, and I was curious what might be done today in the way of a moderately-priced one, along the Seventy's general lines. Well, I solved that by going and buying a McCormack DNA-125 from a fellow 'Goner not too long ago. Compact, inexpensive, well-reviewed, power MOSFET's, cult-like following - but almost double the wattage.

This amp was a very pleasant surprise for me. In fact, it showed up some shortcomings with my VTL tube mono's that I ultimately traced to some failing tubes. It's good to have a SS amp around just as a point of reference for consistent performance. I would rate this McCormack much more highly than my Seventy. It's not perfect, but I find it easily more "musical" and "involving" - and just plain competent - than the older Classe. Some of you guys should try to hear one (well warmed-up).

However, after flirting for a few days, when I finally got my tube situation straightened out it became clear that the silicon-hearted amp was never going to tempt me away from my fire bottles. I find it interesting Scanton that you feel tubes always sound rolled-off up top - I've never heard a sub-mega-buck SS amp that sounded as open through the treble to me as an above-entry-level tube amp usually does. It's also interesting that the oft-expressed sentiments about 'musicality' and 'involvement' are being turned by you against tubes, because that's usually exactly what people who love tubes argue to those SS'ers who complain about specs and bass...

Anyway, to answer your question about how long it originally took me to "adjust" to tube sound in my system? - About 30 minutes..."honest"!

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.