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Should I sell Classe CP60 and get a phono stage ?

Hello,
I am combining my HT and music system, my wife told me to clear out the music system from the living room. I am getting a Anthem AVM-20, it has a bypass mode. I also have a Classe CP60 with a phono board. I could sell the Classe and get a high gain mc phono stage and use the AVM-20 or I could keep the Classe and use it HT direct input.
What do you think would be best?
Thanks
Ken
kenrosencpa
studio1
99 posts
 
Ken

This is a tough one! The Anthem is difficult at best to beat for HT unless you have $5K laying around; and the Classe doesn't even allow you to experience vinyl the way you should! Personally, I would use the Anthem for both if the wife is pushing for less stuff! As for vinyl, go to www.lpgear.com and grab the Gram Amp2 SE for vinyl!

If you're the type of guy who likes a little research first - go to this website to read about it >>>>>> http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0402/gramamp2se.htm

I use the Gram Amp2 with PSU1 and I haven't looked back!!! Instruments sound real, and I can now look to other things -because the Gram does the job comparable with units up to $2K.

Hope this helps!

Studio1
kenrosencpa OP
13 posts
 
Studio 1
Thanks for the tip. I don't think the Gram Amp2 will work for my .2mv mc without a mc step up. I didn't have any idea the CP60 was that bad, it sound good to me.
Ken
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
Hi Ken,

I would say that it would depend on how much you use your system for HT and how much for listening to music. I tried the high end HT way a few years ago, but found that I wasn't enjoying the music. I left high end HT and returned to two channel with a Classe CP-60 w/phono. I never looked back. I never found a SSP that could reproduce music like the CP-60. I've since moved on, and now have a BAT VK-51SE preamp, but I have no regrets at all.
I do still watch an occasional movie with HT, but I find a Denon receiver drives the surrounds just fine, with the FL & FR being fed into my BAT preamp.
I use my system for over 80% music though. When I had high end SSP's (Classe, Proceed, Krell, etc) I was only listening to about 20% music. I spend a lot more time with my system now, because there's nothing quite as entertaining as an audio system that sounds great with music.
I'd keep the Classe CP-60 if I were you, and just run your SSP or receiver through it. I've never heard a digital preamp or SSP, sound as good as a two channel analog preamp yet. Most don't even come close.
I'm not trying to start a flame war. If HT/video is your bag then run out and buy the latest SSP, but if you want music, keep your CP-60.
That's my $0.02

Cheers,
John
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