Phono Modules for my CAP-2100

[kpodolski]

Picked up the CPM's for my CAP-2100 and installed them last night. Piece of cake! The inside of this unit is beautiful. Built like the proverbial brick s**t house. Haven't done any listening with the phono boards. I'll do some serious listening on Sunday.

[ak77]

Hi

Just out of curosity, what is a CPM and what does it do? I too have a CAP-2100 so was wondering if this is something interesting to add

Cheers!
Andy

[Glen B]

Hi
Just out of curosity, what is a CPM and what does it do? I too have a CAP-2100 so was wondering if this is something interesting to add

CPM = Classé phono modules (MM/MC phono boards).

Picked up the CPM's for my CAP-2100 and installed them last night. Piece of cake! The inside of this unit is beautiful. Built like the proverbial brick s**t house. Haven't done any listening with the phono boards. I'll do some serious listening on Sunday.

I have owned three Classé preamp models with phono over the years. In each case vinyl playback has been excellent.

[Alpha231]

Have you listened to this yet?

[wettou]

Picked up the CPM's for my CAP-2100 and installed them last night. Piece of cake! The inside of this unit is beautiful. Built like the proverbial brick s**t house. Haven't done any listening with the phono boards. I'll do some serious listening on Sunday.

Cool picture I would never dream of opening this up, you probably voided the warranty!

[kpodolski]

Have you listened to this yet?

Yes, and I'm very happy with the sound quality...considering these modules only cost $500. My analog rig is a Project Perspective with an Ortofon OM3 mm cartidge. Sony SS-M9 speakers. I dropped on my copy of Brubeck/Mulligan's "Compadres". This is live recording from Mexico. Always thought this was an OK sounding album that had a slightly compressed quality to it. My old phono pre-amp was a Sony TA-E80ES that I always thought was a nice unit. But when I spun "Compadres" with the Classe I was floored! I couldn't believe what I was hearing. It was a brand new recording for me. I was hearing deeper into the music and hearing things I hadn't heard before. My favorite track is "Lullabye de Mexico". It's a slightly meloncoly track with nice atmosphere. The Classe throws a substantially larger soundstage then the Sony and the bass response was incredible. All the years I listened to this album and I thought it was anemic in the low end and here it was the Sony. Don't get me wrong; for how long I've owned the Sony and for what I paid for it, it's served me well...maybe it's just getting a little tired. But the Classe with the CPM's just took my albums to another level. And that's with a fairly mediocre cartidge to boot! Some other albums I have in rotation are:
Roxy Music - Avalon
Harold Budd - Lovely Thunder
Steve Roach - Dreamtime Return. Probably one of the greatest ambient albums...in my humble opinion. Listen to "Looking for Safety". Simply incredible.
Fear Falls Burning - The Amplifier Drones
Some lute recordings by Jakob Lindburg.

I'm pulling out albums that I'm very familiar with and I'm re-discovering them all over again because of the Classe. What a great piece of equipment!

[Alpha231]

Cool picture I would never dream of opening this up, you probably voided the warranty!

No, he didn't void the warranty...

[Alpha231]

Yes, and I'm very happy with the sound quality...considering these modules only cost $500. My analog rig is a Project Perspective with an Ortofon OM3 mm cartidge. Sony SS-M9 speakers. I dropped on my copy of Brubeck/Mulligan's "Compadres". This is live recording from Mexico. Always thought this was an OK sounding album that had a slightly compressed quality to it. My old phono pre-amp was a Sony TA-E80ES that I always thought was a nice unit. But when I spun "Compadres" with the Classe I was floored! I couldn't believe what I was hearing. It was a brand new recording for me. I was hearing deeper into the music and hearing things I hadn't heard before. My favorite track is "Lullabye de Mexico". It's a slightly meloncoly track with nice atmosphere. The Classe throws a substantially larger soundstage then the Sony and the bass response was incredible. All the years I listened to this album and I thought it was anemic in the low end and here it was the Sony. Don't get me wrong; for how long I've owned the Sony and for what I paid for it, it's served me well...maybe it's just getting a little tired. But the Classe with the CPM's just took my albums to another level. And that's with a fairly mediocre cartidge to boot! Some other albums I have in rotation are:
Roxy Music - Avalon
Harold Budd - Lovely Thunder
Steve Roach - Dreamtime Return. Probably one of the greatest ambient albums...in my humble opinion. Listen to "Looking for Safety". Simply incredible.
Fear Falls Burning - The Amplifier Drones
Some lute recordings by Jakob Lindburg.

I'm pulling out albums that I'm very familiar with and I'm re-discovering them all over again because of the Classe. What a great piece of equipment!

Very cool!

I am debating right now whether or not I should put this into my CAP-2100. My current analog setup consist of a Pro-Ject RM-10 w/ Sumiko Blackbird MC cartridge, Pro-Ject Speedbox SE II and Pro-Ject Tube Box SE II. The reason I went with this Phono stage is becuase I needed the load and impedance adjustability of the Tube Box SE II. the Phono modules from Classe don't allow this type of adjustability on top of that they are for low output moving coil... I really want a pair of Classe Phono modules to simplify my stack.

[Glen B]

No, he didn't void the warranty...

Correct. Classé has always been okay with owners doing phono board installation themselves. In fact, every new component used to come with an allen wrench for removing the top cover, if for nothing else but to look at what's under the hood. Modifying or attempting to repair equipment still under warranty is where one would run into trouble.

[kpodolski]

Very cool!

I am debating right now whether or not I should put this into my CAP-2100. My current analog setup consist of a Pro-Ject RM-10 w/ Sumiko Blackbird MC cartridge, Pro-Ject Speedbox SE II and Pro-Ject Tube Box SE II. The reason I went with this Phono stage is becuase I needed the load and impedance adjustability of the Tube Box SE II. the Phono modules from Classe don't allow this type of adjustability on top of that they are for low output moving coil... I really want a pair of Classe Phono modules to simplify my stack.

I'm looking through the papework that came with the CPM's and this is what it says about set-up:

Switch Settings:
a. If you are using a Moving Magnet Cartridge you should set your unit to LowGain. Press the MENU button next to the LCD touchscreen, select SYSTEM SET UP, PHONO GAIN, then LOW GAIN MM. (This is what I am using)

b. If you are using a Moving Coil Cartridge ensure that the moving coil loading dipswitches are set correctly. The default factory setting is 100 ohms.

1. Off (10 ohms)
2. Off (50 ohms)
3. ON (100 ohms)
4. Off (470 ohms
5. Off (1k ohms)

I've attached a picture that shows the dipswitches on the board. Naturally, you would need to select the appropriate switch on each board. Hope this helps with your decision.

[Alpha231]

kpodolski that does it! Thanks for that picture! I'm sold...

[Alpha231]

Correct. Classé has always been okay with owners doing phono board installation themselves. In fact, every new component used to come with an allen wrench for removing the top cover, if for nothing else but to look at what's under the hood. Modifying or attempting to repair equipment still under warranty is where one would run into trouble.

And to my understanding, they offer a plexi-glass top for purchase! Glen, they still include the allen tool.

[RebelMan]

And to my understanding, they offer a plexi-glass top for purchase!

I've wondered about that. You see them all the time at the trade shows. Hmm... now might be a good time to show off the CAM's. :P

[kpodolski]

And to my understanding, they offer a plexi-glass top for purchase! Glen, they still include the allen tool.

I recall back in the early 90's a dealer who had a Luxman (or was it a SonyES) amp that had a clear plastic top. Not sure who did it; the strore or the manufacture. Anyway, the amp was hooked up to a pair of Infinity Kappa's...I think the were Kappa 9's that were a notoriously demanding load. Anywho, the were jamming on the amp so hard it got so hot that it melted the plastic top and started a little fire. They lovingly called it the "Birthday Cake" after that. Morale of the story...be careful what you wish for...!

[Russ L]

kpodolski that does it! Thanks for that picture! I'm sold...

Likewise...just talked to my dealer about a price . Should run the 804Ss quite well.

[extracampine]

Where can you find these in the UK?

[TomScrut]

Where can you find these in the UK?

Might be worth dropping Classe support in the UK an email, they sometimes have a piece or two knocking about. They found me a remote for a CP-500. I do think you will really struggle to find one though. More likely that you would have to find somebody with one that will part with their boards as they don't use that feature.

Sent from my HTC One M9 using Tapatalk

[aarsoe]

Funny - I also have a phono board in my preamp - but it is different compared to yours. Was not aware that several different models existed. Now it is only small changes, but they are there..
Mine is labeled B06201 and the print seems to be dated 19-05 - which I read as week 19 year 2005. Any date on yours? Cannot tell from your picture..

[aarsoe]

Wait - I see the date 12-07. So yours is newer..