TALLMAN, NY, USA: picking up where it left off with its CLA-200 Studio Reference Amplifier, a 200W RMS per channel Class A/B affair developed in close collaboration with GRAMMY® Award-winning mix engineer Chris Lord-Alge, Avantone Pro is proud to introduce its CLA-400 bigger brother — built the old-school way as a classically-designed Class A/B amplifier to bring about a dynamic, high-output, high-resolution, full-range system designed to be paired with large passive monitors demanding the highest amounts of power — as of February 1…

As alluded to by its ‘numerical’ nomenclature, the CLA-400 can generate over 400W per channel into an 8Ω load, lending its use as a perfect fit for medium to large passive monitors in a studio environment where its standard 3U (483mm W x 133mm H x 487mm D/19” W x 5.25” H x 18” D) rack-mount chassis conveniently comes into its own. Of course, the CLA-400 clearly warrants pairing with large passive monitors that demand the highest amounts of power that it is duly designed to deliver from the ground up.

Ultimately, then, the CLA-400 is a dynamic, high-output, high-resolution, full-range system built the old-school way — as a classically-designed Class A/B amplifier. As such, Avantone Pro paid particular attention to creating an amplifier in the traditional studio style, with ample analog VU (Volume Unit) meters, high-quality Japanese components, and a serious toroidal transformer linear power supply, as well as implementing a classic bipolar transistor design delivering a robust bottom end. Extremely low distortion, steady performance under harsh conditions, and open and transparent sound attributes all combine to make the CLA-400 an obvious choice for discerning studios seeking serious dynamic range.

Notable no-compromise components notwithstanding, it is worth noting that the CLA-400’s convection-cooled design makes for silent operation. So since there is obviously no fan noise involved as a result, it can reside in the same location as the passive monitors to which it is providing power — perfectly suited to installation in studio control rooms, in other words. Indeed, it is designed to be used in a studio environment requiring high power output with no fan noise.

Needless to say, the CLA-400 capably delivered a powerful 400W into 8Ω under test conditions, while it is also worth noting that it can run at one third power without thermal fault — findings borne out by its impressive tech specs: 8Ω stereo power (1kHz): 360W; 4Ω stereo power (1kHz): 540W; 8Ω bridge power (1kHz): 760W; slew rate (at 1kHz): 28V/us; input sensitivity (1kHz): 0.775V (0dBU); Total Harmonic Distortion (1kHz): <0.1%; intermodulation distortion (at 10% rated power 1KHz): <0.1%; crosstalk: -70dB; frequency response: 20Hz-20kHz +/-0.5dB; frequency response: 20Hz-20kHz +/-0.5dB; input impedance: 20KΩ (balanced)/10kΩ (unbalanced); damping factor(100Hz, 8Ω): 250; signal-to-noise ratio (A Weighted): >103dB.

Time to make some room in a suitable studio rack and make an attentive return to passive monitoring, maybe? After all, Avantone Pro puts out 800W of reference-grade power with its all-new CLA-400 studio reference amplifier built the old-school way, weighing in at a reassuringly solid 22.2kg (49lb)!

The CLA-400 is available at Avantone Pro’s US Dealers (http://www.avantonepro.com/us-dealers.php) with a MAP (Minimum Advertised Price) of $1,199.00 USD. (European SSP — Suggested Selling Price — is €1,199.00 EUR, excluding VAT, with worldwide Distributors listed by country here: http://www.avantonepro.com/worldwide.php)

For further information, please visit the dedicated CLA-400 webpage here: http://www.avantonepro.com/cla-400.php

About Avantone Pro (www.avantonepro.com)
As a producer of affordable high-quality studio monitors, reference headphones, microphones, and accessories, Avantone Pro is a different kind of audio company — a creative vehicle, in effect, enabling its core team to bring to market the things viewed as missing in the industry. Indeed, this could be anything as simple as meeting a particular price point to give excellent quality for reasonable pricing to a product that simply does not exist until built by that team. Far from using the shotgun approach to creating a product line, however, each and every product produced has passion and purpose driving it forward. Regardless of whether attracting a two- or four-figure price tag, attention to design is consistent throughout all Avantone Pro products. Performance comes first, of course, but a great deal of design time is spent creating visually attractive products. Put it this way: the company collectively enjoys classic, timeless designs itself; it is convinced, therefore, that others feel the same way! With its microphones and monitors used in studios around the world — whether, within home-based project setups or world-renowned multi-million-dollar facilities, Avantone Pro is sensitive to the real-world operating budgets of bigger and smaller studios alike but also appreciates struggling songwriters/artists who are passionate about creating great music yet must adhere to budget limitations based on common sense spending. Since it strives to offer products that anyone would be proud to own and have long-term use of in the quest for creating great music, even those on a budget can comfortably access Avantone Pro’s world-class sound.

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