ANTHEM STATEMENT P2 VS. PARASOUND HALO A21 VS. CLASSE CA 2200

Amp/Preamp Asylum

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I recently compared the measurements of the Anthem Statement P2 Stereo Amplifier (March 2005) and the measurements of the Classe Audio Delta CA 220 Stereo Amplifier (December 2004)by Bascom King of BHK Labs and my reading of these results shows that the P2 shows 3 dB less noise than the Classe into a 1K ohm input and 4 dB less noise than the Classe into a 600 balanced input.

From Chart 2 - Distortion as a Function of Power Output and Output Loading, the P2 appears to have less and from Chart 5 Distortion and Noise Spectrum again the P2 appears to have less.

The Classe costs $5,000 and the P2 costs $2,500. Am I making more of this than I should? The reason I am asking is the P2 was favorably reviewed in SoundStage but in a review of a different amplifier (also costing twice as much) the same reviewer wrote: "I was keenly aware that the Anthem amp contributed a slight glare in the upper midrange, resulting in a hint of shoutiness in this critical frequency range. Image depth was slightly compressed, presenting a more two-dimensional soundstage." Further into the review he wrote: the BC202â€™s midrange richness and grain-free treble unearthed some attendant coarseness in the Anthem that could otherwise pass unnoticed."
Where does the Parasound Halo A21 fall here? At $2,000 retail it competes directly with the Anthem Statement P2 ($2,500). Has anyone compared these two? The Anthem has 14 output devices per channel as compared to the A21's 12 but the A21 has far greater storage capacitance and overbuilt power supplies mean a great deal in performance. Thank you in advance to all who respond.
Sincerely,
Christopher Frank AKA Soundman

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Topic - ANTHEM STATEMENT P2 VS. PARASOUND HALO A21 VS. CLASSE CA 2200 - soundman 09:19:55 12/21/06 (0)

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