Classe CAM-400 - twice as good as CA-2200?

[fikszo]

I am moving from a HT setup to a dedicated stereo setup.

While I am a real Classe enthusiastic, I definitely prefer staying with it.

But now I was wondering if anyone has done a 1-one-1 comparison between the CAM-400 mono's and the CA-2200, while one mono costs the same as the stereo poweramp.

I can imagine that it is better then the stereo amp, but what were the differences, and is it really worth the money?

I did have a comparison between the CA-2200 and the CA-3200 in 2-channel, which I found very hard or even impossible to distinguish.

So I was really wondering if it really is a world apart, or that also between the mono's and the stereo amp it is quite difficult to notice the differences.

Rest of my setup;

I am also looking to buy the CP-700 preamp, and I now own the CDP-202 cd player. My speakers are B&W 803D.

Thanks in advance for your reply's

[vinylmeister]

The CA-M400 uses the same 200W modules, but configured in balanced output mode. One module amplifies an inverted signal while the other handles a non-inverted signal.
Therefore I would go for the CP-700 first, I think that your 803D are well served with the CA-3200.

[Eliav]

HI
If you search in this (or may be in the B&W) forum previous posts, I think you will find a review of both amps. compared A/B. Per my recollection, the differences were not big and were limited to lower end superior handling by the bigger guys.
I do not think you can go wrong either way. the CDP 202 and CP700 is unbeatable combo. I have a very similar setup ( CAM400/CDP202/CP700/800D) Strongly recommended !!.
Cheers

[fikszo]

I searched for the A/B comparison in both forums, but couldn't find it.
If you can help me out on this one, please.

What I did see, is a lot of opinions about the small defferences between them. That makes me wonder. Still a lot of people do have the mono's, so for some reason they did think it was worth the money. (or couldnt live with the thought that they would always think about how it would sound with them if they bought the stereo amp).

Does anyone know of a CP-700 and the mono's being offered secondhand? And what are reasonable prices?

I saw a cp-700 offered at audiogon for $ 4200, which I thought is quite expensive, while some months ago several were being offered at much lower prices.
And what about the CAM-400; does $ 5.000 for a set seems reasonable?

[FALCODEAN]

Dear Fikszo,
I had the same dilemma a couple of months ago myself, had upgraded my speakers to 800d and wondered whether the CAM-400 would make a difference to my CA 2200. I had both in my less than ideal home living room and decided to keep the monoamps. It took me some time though to decide as the differences were not that big. I mainly kept the monoamps due to the more convincing, solid, bass performance, more depth and volume in the lower end.
My setup:
CDP-502
CP-700
2x CAM 400
2x 800d
I still have an SSP 300 but can`t quite convince myself to add a full HT as I mainly listen two channel.

[Eliav]

I searched for the A/B comparison in both forums, but couldn't find it.
If you can help me out on this one, please.

What I did see, is a lot of opinions about the small defferences between them. That makes me wonder. Still a lot of people do have the mono's, so for some reason they did think it was worth the money. (or couldnt live with the thought that they would always think about how it would sound with them if they bought the stereo amp).

Does anyone know of a CP-700 and the mono's being offered secondhand? And what are reasonable prices?

I saw a cp-700 offered at audiogon for $ 4200, which I thought is quite expensive, while some months ago several were being offered at much lower prices.
And what about the CAM-400; does $ 5.000 for a set seems reasonable?

Hi again
I think that RebelMan commented on the differences between the two amplifiers. Try to look at his threads, I hope I am not misleading you, I am pretty much convinced he had done this A/B comparison and published his findings in this forum.

[wettou]

I am looking for three CAM-400 I might trade my CA-5200

[style]

Hallo,

at first is what do you search: power fully or precision and details...pure control from HF &LF

the biamp with 2x ca2200 and 802D (or up) give you the best sound vs. 2x cam400.

the cp 700 is perfect, the cp500 go out of Classe production....

but is a personal taste.

Style

[Eliav]

I am looking for three CAM-400 I might trade my CA-5200

Wow.
Sounds like a power plant you're building there :W ..
I was thinking about bi-amp. my 800D with 4 CAM400, yet, never heard ANYONE who could tell me the difference was audible to justify the expense of getting an additional pair of 400, speaker cables cables, etc..

[SchH III]

For the 800D's, the answer is a definitive yes. The improvement in bass response is, in my opinion, remarkable and the benefits far exceed the monetary cost. Currently I am using 5 CA-M400's (bi-amping the 800D's) and the fifth for the center. A CA-2200 powers the surrounds. Other Classe components include the SSP-800 (still not updated as the local dealer failed) and a CDP-202.

[wettou]

Wow. Sounds like a power plant you're building there :W ..
I was thinking about bi-amp. my 800D with 4 CAM400, yet, never heard ANYONE who could tell me the difference was audible to justify the expense of getting an additional pair of 400, speaker cables cables, etc..

I think just using mono blocks should do the job

[style]

well, is really no bad or???

a monoblocks Omega from Classe will be the next step!!

or a new speakers!!


Style

[shep]

running B&W 803s with CA-2200, CDP-202 and CP700. Pretty happy with the sound I have now, but I can vouch for the 803d being a fairly significant step up. As for the CAM-400s, I have yet to hear them, but would like the opportunity to substitute them into my existing system.