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300 watts/channelIncludes user manualBalanced and RCA inputsPlease note that this is a very heavy item (approx. 54kg) - bring a trolley or helper to pick up!
This is a buyer’s market for big, older power amplifiers, and A$3,400 looks ambitious rather than tempting. Comparable used examples have appeared around A$2,400–A$3,000 after conversion, so this ask is above the usual range unless the amplifier is exceptional, locally serviced, and supplied with the original crate or accessories. At A$3,400, insist on a proper audition and negotiating room.
The CA-301 remains a serious performer: 300 watts per channel into 8 ohms, prodigious current, a massive power supply, balanced circuitry, and enough grip for difficult speakers. It is smooth, quiet, physically imposing, and capable of deep, authoritative bass. The catch is age, weight, and the need to verify Australian-voltage operation, channel balance, hum, relay behaviour, and capacitor or service history. A clean, fully tested example would be worthwhile, but at this price the seller should provide convincing provenance—or come down closer to A$2,800–A$3,000.
Independent perspective — not a price guarantee. Always verify condition, accessories and provenance before purchase.
Classé Audio emerged from Canada in 1979, founded by music enthusiast Mike Viglas in partnership with engineer David Reich. Frustrated by unreliable high-end electronics during a demonstration, Viglas sought superior performance, leading to the company's debut product: the DR-2, a 25-watt-per-channel Class A stereo amplifier launched in 1980. This pure Class A design not only inspired the brand's name but also established its early reputation for open, natural sound and unwavering reliability, with headquarters just outside Montréal.
The brand specializes in high-performance electronics, excelling in amplifiers, preamplifiers, integrated amplifiers, and processors for both music and home theater systems. Early models set the tone for authoritative power delivery, evolving into robust units delivering 250-300 watts per channel while maintaining sonic finesse. Classé has consistently prioritized no-compromise research and manufacturing, focusing on components that deliver theater-grade dynamics and musical precision without venturing into speakers, turntables, DACs, headphones, or cables.
Positioned firmly in the high-end market, Classé commands respect among discerning audiophiles for its Canadian heritage and build quality, once handcrafted in Quebec. Acquired by the B&W Group in 2001 and later by Sound United in 2018, it remains a benchmark for reliable, powerful electronics that prioritize longevity and uncolored reproduction, appealing to buyers seeking investment-grade hi-fi.
See all Classé listings on RADAR.
