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Classe CP-35 pre and Classe in general

Hello folks,

I just brought home a CP-35 to audition it as a step up from the Rotel RC-1072 and Acurus RL-11 I had been auditioning. I liked it -- excellent high-end, very natural. Less harsh than the Acurus, but better definition
than the Rotel. This is the only pre-amp in it's range I've seriously auditioned.

This is a dealer demo, for $900, I believe list is $1200.

I'm a bit concerned by the reviews I saw on Audioreview.com. Usually reviews there are positive (even for stuff that's less nice to listen to),but these were decidely mixed. All the reviews for all the Classe equipment were pretty old. This made me wonder if people are still buying this equipment. The most recent CP-35 review (which wasn't very recent)described this as a discontinued model, though it is listed on the Classe
website as "new". Several reviewers mentioned background "hiss" or "noise" as a problem, though I don't hear it in my demo unit.

The higher-end pre-amps (CP-50 and CP-60) got more decidely positive (though old) reviews.

Has anyone compared this entry-level pre-amp to the higher-end Classe stuff, or other stuff in it's price range?

Here are some other questions/concerns (feature questions):

-- The remote is nice (better than the Acurus, which doesn't allow input switching), but doesn't appear to allow controlling a CD player. If you buy a Classe CD player, do you need two remotes?

-- No headphone jack. But there are two sets of pre-amp outputs, so I guess you hook up one of them to a separate headphone amplifier? If so, it appears you turn off your speakers by turning off your power amp. In many cases, this can't be done remotely.

-- The Classe amps and CD players are expensive, in case I want to "match" them. I haven't auditioned these, what do people think of them?

-- Is the company likely to be around for awhile?

Thanks for any comments/feedback you can offer.

- Eric

p.s. Sorry if you saw this on rec.audio.high-end. I posted there three days ago, but it seems the moderators have taken memorial day weekend off, so no posts have made it there. I'm hoping to get some suggestins by tomorrow when I have to return this gear!

Thanks...
ehart5808
davidk63
2 posts
 
For what it's worth.... I currently own a CP-35 and use it with my Classe CA-300 amp. I originally bought it with a CA-100 three years ago as my first "High-end" preamp. I was on a budget and the CP-35 was one of my choices. I listened to McIntosh (very nice sound), Krell (too harsh), Rotel (not bad) and B&K (terrible). I was able to listen to these items with the speakers I own - Thiel CS 2 2. I felt that the CP-35 gave me the best balance of imaging and musicality of the bunch. Keep in mind that the Classe gear may not suit your particular tastes with the associated equipment you will use. I upgraded my amp for more power and better sound and got that. I do intend to upgrade my CP-35 to a CP-60 when my budget allows. The CP-60 does have a better sound, but it is unfair to compare the two. I still think my CP-35 has a very good sound and am not unhappy with it at all.
You may be able to pick up a phono preamp to use with the CP-35 from Creek or Black Cube to solve the phono situation if you can't find it built in. Give it a shot. The sound is first rate and the product is built like a tank. Don't let the remote scare you away if the price is what you want to spend.
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
I agree with Snooker14, Eric. I love the Classe amps, I own a CA-200 and a CAV-75 for surrounds. I preferred the Proceed pre/pro to the Classe. The Classe was pretty good, I just liked the Proceed better. The amps are pretty tough to beat for the prices. Mrderrick, my amps are dead quiet even with the ear right up to the speakers. I'm running them in balanced mode, I don't know if this makes the difference.
mrderrick
292 posts
 
I also run fully balanced. I've spoken with several others who also hear it in their systems. It's barly audible right at the drivers. Had it with both CA-100's and the 400. It's probably AC line noise related. Right now it's not worth my time to try to track it down.
ehart
215 posts
 
I bought the CP-35. Thanks to everyone for their input. It came down to the Adcom GFP-750 or the Classe. Tough choice. In the end I decided that the Adcom is a little "too" precise for me (if that's possible). The sound didn't hang together as well as with the Classe (not as "musical", though the amazing distinctness of the instruments provided by the Adcom in passive mode was interesting to listen to.

It didn't hurt that the Classe (as a demo) was a couple hundred cheaper, and that I preferred the Classe dealer.

Both of these pre-amps sound so much better than what I have now (old receiver), as long as I am not directly comparing them, they both blow me away.

Thanks again. These forums are a great resource!

- Eric
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