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Confused addict: need help with upgrade

Current sys: B&W Nautilius 805; rotel 1070 cdp; classe 151 integrated amp; audioquest slate and audioquest coral

I recently replaced my rotel 1060 integrated amp with the cap 151. I was pretty happy with the rotel but reading the magazines made me want to buy the next better amp. Different dealers said the Classe and B&Ws are "a match in heaven". I thought it made some sense because B&W distributes Classe. I auditioned the Classe at the dealer and liked it and bought it. ( I heard Krell 300iL may be too bright and CLasse has a more airy treble.)

While there is significant improvement in the base response, I notice more roll off at the high frequencies. The dynamics are vastly improved but I can't detect any significant difference in transparency.

(To avoid decompensating my neurotic-pyschotic neighbour, I listen at a reduced level with the Classe. The relative dynamic compression of the rotel is a mixed blessing.)

Is this an inherent compromise for an airy treble?
What should I do to increase the transparency?

I coninue to read What HiFi, Stereophile, Absolute Sound, HiFi Choice. I am thinking Sony SCD XA-777ES is the solution. Am I on the right track?

My dealer said the Signature 805s are much better than the regular 805s. Would my money be better spent with new speakers?

Any help is appreiated.
128x128glai
judit
217 posts
 
I own the B&W Nautilus 805s. I have a very high quality front end interfaced to these speakers. They deliver what you feed them. My system is riveting on Jazz, vocals and instrumentals. For large scale orchestral music I will have to walk some additional miles ...
cdc
1,839 posts
 
Maybe the Rotel was bright and not the Classe rolled off. That was my impression of Rotel integrated on B&W 601's. Stereophile could seem to make up their mind about giving the Classe an "A" because of it's forward sound. Finally gave it a "B". So I don't know if you could call Classe rolled off.
I swithed from Classe to Musical Fidelity with Revel M-20 / F30 and lost a lot of high frequency energy. So maybe Classe is really not less bright, just more "correct". Just my thought.
subaruguru
1,376 posts
 
Are you sure Classe is distributed by Equity (Rotel and B&W)? They're a Quebecois firm, and pretty unrelated to those guys in the UK, eh?
rapogee
256 posts
 
Hello there,

Your Classe is a fine unit! Krell does have a little more resolution but well more analytical I should say, the Classe is more musical I think in many ways.
What you need is to go buy and older full range ribbon like the Apogee Stages! You want low level resolution, they are the only ones. Dont get me wrong the are many super new speakers today but the Apogee will sound different, layers and layers and layers of detail and I mean detail.
I had them all before, the DIVA, GRAND and finally parted with it few years ago. NO SUPPORT other that a guy in Australia who can repair these stuff. Now I have Wilsons and Sonus Faber as my references. You could pick up an older Apogee for a good price. Try it out if you dont believe me. You will be startled when you hear it for the first time. Musicians will be there in your room, no kidding. Maggies are not bad at all but Apogees were differernt, the had the subtleness, soundstage, dispersion level, dynamics, RESOLUTION GALORE!!!! and the ATTACK was mind blowing! Look around for even an Apogee Centaur Hybrid and it will give you a taste of the Jason Bloom's 27 in ribbon taste which was my first experience with Apogee and never ever forgot it and finally ended up buying 3 pairs all in along the the DIVA's the 250lb beauty! Good luck!

It took me years to find out what I wanted in a pair of speakers and the Apogee did it in 15 minutes of listening.
Good luck! I am no more a ribbon devote just to let you know. After 7 year when Apogee bailed out, I bailed out on Apogee my self! They are a classic design, simple but effective! p/s I was not impressed with many other ribbon manufactures! Apogee stood out to the top! Try it out and see for your self!
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