Sim W-3, W5 vs Classe 201


Which one is better to drive B&W 804 Nautilus? And why?
Anyone compare the two? Thanks
goone30cea3

Showing 4 responses by goone

Thanks a lot now you really screwed me up and have me thinking. No, I really like the Levinson amp 334 or 335 but it might be out of my budget range for now. I have heard the Sim and really like the bass slam it is so tight and deep but you are right the high kind of roll off and just a tiny bit harsh on the side. I have not heard CA-201 but heard the CA-151 Classe is more natural and sweet on the midrange and high but the bass is not that good so you know what I mean I am really confused and don't know what to do? Thanks again.
OK, guys I really appreciate any suggestion and I agreed certain gears need to be set-up correctly to take the full advantage of the system. Here today I spend almost 5 hours at 2 different store listen to Conrad Johnson MFM 2500, Krell 300i with the 804 and none of them I like conrad is just too warm but the MF and HF is very good but the bass is kind of flat. Krell on the other hand is wonderful on bass tight and deep but it is way too bright for my taste especially on the nautilus tweeter. Then I went to another store listen to Classe 201, Proceed HPA 2, and then the big one Mark Levison 335 on the Thiel 2.3 or something did not remember exactly the model number. The classe is just wonderful and sweet on the midrange and hi treble it just so smooth and I would say romantic bass is just OK. Proceed on the other hand is more detail little brighter and more slam on the bottom then Classe need to go with the tube pre-amp like audio control LS-15. And then just for curiousity I tested out the ML 335 and boy oh boy I was amazed the sound that came out of that speaker it just did everything right MH, HF, low bass, high bass everything thing was done correct never sound any bright or harsh at all and especially when we turned off the light listen to Frank Sinatra me and my nephew thought Frank was standing right there singing to us (Wow that is a scary thoughts). Well then again its cost more than double the other three amps it has to sound good. And going back to the Simm I think it also is very special on the bass its produces some serious deep and so TIGHT but like Levinson335 said its is kind a roll off the high compared to the overpriced Krell it is much much better I think. So I guess I have to audioned the Classe myself at home with my current set-up and tried it out but thanks again for a lot of good info.
Levison 335 I think the Lev is just out of my budget at this moment right now.
And again sorry but I don't think the Sim is even in the same class with the Levinson no no way. (just my opinion I am very sure whoever own the Sim is very happy with their gear it very good a friend of mine had one and he loves it but it does not compared to the ML) Thanks