CLASSE - Great amps or highly flawed?

The bottom line on this whole thread is that many, but not all, devotees of Classe amps who answered here can't handle any criticism towards their enshrined objects. This is quite myopic and immature. There are constant excuses: Martin Colloms did a subjective review; Robert Reina didn't know what he was talking about; the systems are messed up. Quite frankly, if all Classe owners have to offer is excuses and attacks on every reviewer who has given lukewarm reviews to these amps, I'd rather the thread end, too.

In response to Ramstl, the McCormack amp I compared it to is a much refined design over the DNA 0.5 you owned.

I have outlined the systems I used to analyze the CA-201, and I'm sure that I zeroed in on the sonic characteristics of this amp. It isn't a matter of taste -- I am describing sonic deficiencies both I and an audiophile friend heard. FYI, I am a professional musician, pianist and vocalist, and am acutely aware of what sounds like music and what doesn't.

I agree with Pops, Glen , and Acatinthehat.

I think you meant "IYO" when you made your statement comparing the McCormick to Classe'. I would agree they have a different sound but as to which is better....that is for the listener to decide. I don't consider myself the final authourity on absolute matters and certainly not anyone else.

BTW, I don't believe the DNA.5 delux is outdated and vastly improved upon by McCormick. Also, for the record, I never owned the DNA .5, a very good friend of mine does and I have listen to it for hours on end and I have enjoyed it. I just like the Classe' in my system better.

That's my story and I am sticking to it ;) And, I will give someone else the last word.

Ramstl, taste and opinion are just that. However, repeatable, sonic characteristics are not the same. The Classe 201's damped out, airless, rolled-off high end was very obvious to three different listeners on highly resolving systems. So was the weak, flabby bass. These are deficiencies, not just taste issues. If I was speaking of things like, "a little brighter", "a little darker", "more upfront", "more laidback" -- those are characteristics that I could see can be interpreted as "taste."

There are people who think a Hostess cupcake tastes as good as a homemade chocolate cake made with butter and premium chocolate. Is that just a matter of taste? It's a matter of quality, and there are many who lack the discernment to know.

By the way, the DNA 0.5, while a decent amp, is tizzier and inferior in other ways to Steve's new DNA 125 . He will tell you that himself, as well as over 40 other audiophiles reviewing the DNA125 on AudioReview.

I love the Hostess cupcake analogy. Drives me crazy when some teenager (even the grownup ones) says "that's just your opinion" in response to my saying a particular cake or pie (or taco) is better than another. There are standards, and there is such a thing as quality.

You lost me, otoh, with the appeal to the authority of the "40 other audiophiles on AudioReview."

I have never knowingly listened to the expensive and well reviewed Classes, but while I have an "opinion" on the less expensive Classe amps that I have had in my home on audition (decided not to buy them), like Pops, I don't see any point to this thread either.