Classe Audio 70 Amplifier

fishbones

This is one of the original designs of Classe Audio (before B&W took over) and is thought to be one of the best of them. It double down in it's wattage which is a sure sign of it's impeccable circuitry design (70w-8ohm/140w-4ohm). I am trying something newer so don't need this anymore. Condition is very good. I only find one minor blemish on the bottom left corner of faceplate. Sound and function is in perfect working order. $400 plus shipping. I have a reprinted copy of the owner's manual and boxing isn't original but will be better than original. Comes with IEC cord.

bdaley6509

Sexy amp.

bikerboy

Interested in the amp. I'm interested if you know about the balanced inputs. Is this a true balanced amp and can it be used with sdas? Not much info on the web. Do you know when it was made? Thanks.

TroyD

Yes, it's common ground.....

fishbones

bikerboy,

Here is a review on A'gon that might be helpful: http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/frr.pl?ramps&1072655439&openfrom&1&4#1

It doesn't have a date on the unit, so I don't know the exact production date, but I know it was in production in the 90's.

I don't know if it's a true balanced amp? I'm thinking not (from pics I've seen of the inside)? ...Anyone else know?

Here is what they look like on the inside if this helps...



And yes, as Troy said...it is common ground. I made sure of that for my SDA's.

Let me know if you have any other questions...
-Troy

RuSsMaN

My Orion shows 1992-96, 75/150 (8/4ohm) and a retail of $1195.

No brainer amp at this price. Ronco it.

B&W802d

I have this amp and many others from Classe (older and newer lineup). This amp is almost bullet proof and sounds every bit as good as amps costing 3-4 times as much. Will drive even the most demanding loads with ease. At $400.00 this should be a no brainer for those looking to upgrade. If you currently run amps like Adcom,Rotel, and the like this is a major step up in sound everything. glwts

p.s. I read these forums everyday and NO, I am not looking to pad my post count to sell something. JUst wanted to give a great amp a bump.

fishbones

B&W802d wrote: »

I have this amp and many others from Classe (older and newer lineup). This amp is almost bullet proof and sounds every bit as good as amps costing 3-4 times as much. Will drive even the most demanding loads with ease. At $400.00 this should be a no brainer for those looking to upgrade. If you currently run amps like Adcom,Rotel, and the like this is a major step up in sound everything. glwts

p.s. I read these forums everyday and NO, I am not looking to pad my post count to sell something. JUst wanted to give a great amp a bump.

Thanks B&W802d

fishbones

More pics of it, plus a couple knicks I found on the heat sinks in the bright light...









I am experiencing sum amp hum (or light buzz) through the speakers, but the guy I bought it from assured me it never had any hum in his system (and he said he has built a handful of amplifiers and seemed pretty knowledgable) so I assume it has to do something with this 30 yr old house I'm in, or something in my system?

beemer

Fine amplifier for the money. I'm surprised this has not sold.

Best,

Paul

newrival

how would this compare to my current amp, a parasound HCA-1200 mkII. It (the classe) is almost 1/3rd the wattage, and I'm driving Polk SRS's (4 ohm)

fishbones

I don't have personal experience with Parasound amps, so couldn't really say (I've just done alot of research on them)? Maybe someone else could chime in that might have some experience? The Classe is a high-current amp (current is for driving speakers, wattage is for high SPL's). Generally people recommend higher wattage amplifiers for diffucult speaker loads because generally they will have more current than their smaller bretheren, but certainly isn't guaranteed (in fact many times it's the same), also wattage is what alot of manufacturers go by as a standard rating of power so is one of the few things to compare amps. I believe the Parasound HCA's are pretty high current, and a good amp. Mainly it would probably be the sonic signature difference of the two. I've heard that the Parasound has alot of bottom end, whereas the Classe is smoother in that area. The Parasound also tends to be more forward than this amp too from what I understand.

Hope this helps...
Troy

newrival

Thanks troy. Yeah thats helpful. I get caught up in the wattage many times with my SRS's. But I guess the fact is that with a 4 ohm, 91db sensitivity speaker, The important thing would be that I stay below 114db (@1m w/~140W) which would be at the end of it output range. While 114db is quite loud I would be concerned with distortion. Do you know where clipping would occur on the amp? or 1% distortion?

newrival

And by the way, Parasound deemed the HCA-1200 MkII an "ultra high current" amplifier, for whatever that is worth. Although to me sounds like a marketing gimmick. But perhaps it's higher than high current, but less than "Super-mega high current."

fishbones

Do you know where clipping would occur on the amp? or 1% distortion?

Have no idea because I never go that loud?

Here is a link for a page that has the owner's manual and spec sheet (go down to Model 70)...maybe it will help.

Gempler

bump for a nice piece of gear.
Dasher, Dancer, Prancer, Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner, Blitzen, and Rudolph would all like this amp nice amp, wouldn't you?

fishbones

Last chance before Agon...

heiney9

I think the Classe will be a little nicer sounding than the Para HCA-1200. I've heard the HCA 1200 before and while it's a nicer sounding amp, it was just pretty average to my ears.

H9

raffi

I'm so tempted to grab this but I need a turntable moe right now...great amp!

dorokusai

Real solid amplifier and a great deal.

fishbones

SOLD to NewRival...enjoy!

cnh

Congrats to NR and fishbones on hooking up!

That's a nice piece....and I am appropriately envious. But had no place for it myself.

cnh