Power Amplifier Reviews

Even before you hear Classé's new Delta series of electronics, you'll probably want to do what I did—feel them up. This is not just because their curved aluminum-and-steel chassis are exquisite works of industrial art—your fingertips wield extraordinary control over the SSP-300 surround processor. The matching CA-5100 five-channel power amplifier will supply the muscle to make your home theater roar.

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<LI>Price: $2,299/pr.</LI>
<LI>Channels/Power: Monoblock; 200-Watts per channel into 8 ohms/325-Watts into 4 ohms </LI>
<LI>Inputs: Single-ended or balanced</LI>
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<LI>Price: $5,990</LI>
<LI>Channels/Power: Five channels; 350-Watts per channel into 4 ohms </LI>
<LI>Inputs: Single-ended and balanced</LI>
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<LI>Price: $5,000, $5,500 and $6,000, respectively for five, six and seven channels</LI>
<LI>Channels/Power: 5/6/7 channels; 125-Watts per channel into 8 ohms/250-Watts into 4 ohms</LI>
<LI>Inputs: Single-ended and balanced</LI>
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<LI>Price: $2,500</LI>
<LI>Channels/Power: Five channels; 250-Watts into 8 ohms/385-Watts into 4 ohms </LI>
<LI>Inputs: Single-ended</LI>
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<LI>Price: $15,800/pr.</LI>
<LI>Channels/Power: Monoblock; 400-Watts per channel into 8 ohms/650-Watts into 4 ohms</LI>
<LI>Inputs: Single-ended and balanced</LI>
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The audio industry seems about to leap off a cliff. Permit me to suggest that this may be a rash decision. True, component audio sales have diminished, but that's no excuse for the industry to abandon its principles and give up on sound quality. What consumers are rebelling against is not good sound but bad design. They've had enough of big, dumb, room-hogging speakers. "It doesn't suit the room, but it sounds good" doesn't cut it anymore. "It looks as good as it sounds" is the winning combination.