CP-900 requests

[ylee]

Originally Posted by Patrick Butler

Hi ylee,

I'm sorry that you are disappointed. Looking over the list of gear you currently own (very nice btw) I noticed that you don't currently run any of Classé's equipment. If you don't mind me asking, have you owned any in the past? Apologies if that comes across as snarky, but it is not intended that way.

Regards,

Patrick
B&W Group North America

A short while ago I had the CP-800 feeding a CA-2200 amp which powered my existing Vandersteen Quatros as well as a pair of B&W 804s speakers. I sold the preamp and amp to one friend and the B&Ws to another early this year. I had the B&Ws for 11 years, the CA-2200 for 8, and the CP-800 for 5.

I'm in the market for a preamp since that is one component I don't have right now. My DAC has a class A output section with a 69 bit volume control, so I can listen to it. But I'd like to connect my CD player as well as my older Ayre QB-9 and that's not possible without a preamp.

p.s. - I've corresponded with Dave Nauber over email in past years. My last email to him was about a year ago asking when the Delta 3 series were going to come out.

[Lassej]

Originally Posted by Patrick Butler

Hi Silvertone,

We have stopped development on the Delta Series to ensure that the products deliver the experience people have come to expect from Classé Audio and Bowers & Wilkins. We will continue to sell Sigma Series products, and our customer service and support have not been effected. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Regards,

Patrick
B&W Group North America


QUOTE=silvertone;856742]Patrick and all,

While visiting a Classe dealer yesterday I was informed that the entire Delta 3 line has been cancelled, as in Classe will no longer compete in the high-end audio market?

Is this true? Can anyone comment?

[/QUOTE]

Hi Patrik,

Yes, I have questions.

Maybe my English is not good enough but frankly speaking I am not really sure what your statement really means. I have been talking with my dealer for a long time now that I wanted to order the new Delta pre and power amp. Will they not be released at all or are they just delayed because you want more feedback from the market of what they want from Classé? Or will Classé totally change strategy and start produce more cheaper/life style products for the big masses?

Is it possible that you can clarify a little bit more of what is going on?
Reading this makes me worried.

https://www.strata-gee.com/letter-de...us-mysterious/

Best regards
Lasse

[Patrick Butler]

Hi Lasse,

As you know, Classé was developing a new generation of Delta Series products. Classé is no longer developing that new generation of products.

What will we see in the future from Classé? I am not involved in those discussions, and do not have any information to share with you. What I do know is that developing cheaper lifestyle products is not in keeping with the Classé brand, and I would not expect that to ever happen. The brand only has value in the relatively rarefied market of high-end audio, and has zero visibility outside of this market.


Regards,

Patrick Butler
B&W Group North America

[Mike-48]

When an old-line audio company is bought by the former CFO of Facebook (Gideon Yu), I suppose that wrenching changes are inevitable.

[Mike-48]

Patrick,

I just would like to add this. Your responses here always have been helpful and professional. I hope that, given the restructuring that CVA apparently has in mind, things go well for you.

Mike

[ylee]

Originally Posted by Mike-48

Patrick,

I just would like to add this. Your responses here always have been helpful and professional. I hope that, given the restructuring that CVA apparently has in mind, things go well for you.

Mike

+1

[Lassej]

Originally Posted by Patrick Butler

Hi Lasse,

As you know, Classé was developing a new generation of Delta Series products. Classé is no longer developing that new generation of products.

What will we see in the future from Classé? I am not involved in those discussions, and do not have any information to share with you. What I do know is that developing cheaper lifestyle products is not in keeping with the Classé brand, and I would not expect that to ever happen. The brand only has value in the relatively rarefied market of high-end audio, and has zero visibility outside of this market.


Regards,

Patrick Butler
B&W Group North America

Hi Patrick,

Ok, thank you very much for answering. It's clearer now even if I am sorry about this descision from the new owner.

Best regards
Lasse Johansson

[Patrick Butler]

Mike,

Thank you. For what it's worth, I'm very excited about what's coming down the pipeline in the future.

Regards,

Patrick
B&W Group North America

Originally Posted by Mike-48

Patrick,

I just would like to add this. Your responses here always have been helpful and professional. I hope that, given the restructuring that CVA apparently has in mind, things go well for you.

Mike

[malba2366]

Instead of competing with all the other boutique brands out there for a small number of customers, the smart move for B&W/Classe would be to come out with a high quality all in one streamer phono stage and integrated amp with an amazing user interface. Most audiophiles would scoff at this, but there is a market out there for people who have used Sonos etc and want better sound. Pairing an all in one Classe unit with B&W speakers would make an amazing setup for that market, but it has to be easy to set up/use as the average customer is not going to fiddle around with Streamers with clunky interfaces, DACs, Preamp, Amp etc. Such a setup would likely have to be branded B&W as the brand has much more recognition.

[akfaulkner]

Originally Posted by malba2366

Instead of competing with all the other boutique brands out there for a small number of customers, the smart move for B&W/Classe would be to come out with a high quality all in one streamer phono stage and integrated amp with an amazing user interface. Most audiophiles would scoff at this, but there is a market out there for people who have used Sonos etc and want better sound. Pairing an all in one Classe unit with B&W speakers would make an amazing setup for that market, but it has to be easy to set up/use as the average customer is not going to fiddle around with Streamers with clunky interfaces, DACs, Preamp, Amp etc. Such a setup would likely have to be branded B&W as the brand has much more recognition.

+1

Personally I suspect the margins are huge for a lot of high end equipment bc of the low numbers of customers...

It's ripe for someone to come in and turn things on their head by making something just as good and upgradable for more than half the price & marketed to a broader customer base.