Classé Audio Delta PRE Mk II
The Delta PRE Mk II pairs near-silent transparency with fluid, controlled dynamics, preserving tonal truth, taut bass and precisely layered space. Edgar Kramer praised its detail and natural musical flow, while its DAC, MM/MC phono stage, HEOS streaming and configurable DSP make it an exceptionally complete analogue/digital control hub.
WATT RECOMMENDS
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Deliciously Crispy
Sound Quality
93/100
Build Quality
94/100
Features Connectivity
94/100
Value for Money
88/100
Pros
Exceptionally quiet, transparent and neutral presentation with detailed yet unetched musical flow.
Tight, nuanced bass and authoritative transient dynamics deliver punch without overhang.
Outstanding all-in-one flexibility: DAC, configurable MM/MC phono, headphone amp, HEOS streaming, DSP/EQ and extensive analogue/digital connectivity.
Superbly engineered chassis, premium connectors and intuitive touchscreen, app and remote control.
Cons
Its deliberately neutral, truthful staging may seem less expansive or romantic than a characterful valve preamplifier.
The substantial premium price makes most sense for listeners who will use its extensive integrated functionality.
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What Reviewers Are Saying
SOUND QUALITY PERFORMANCE 93/100
Reviewers describe an exceptionally quiet, transparent and controlled presentation that remains fluid and engaging rather than clinical. Its neutrality, taut low end, convincing dynamics and truthful spatial presentation make it especially suitable for revealing systems and listeners who want to hear sources without added coloration.
Transparency Resolution
96/100
Kramer calls the Mk II among the quietest preamps he has experienced, praising its detail, cleanliness and ability to let music flow without editorialising. Gramophone similarly describes it as "incredibly transparent," essentially passing the source through true to itself, while Garrecht found the earlier Delta Pre well resolved with analogue sources.
Tonal Balance Musicality
93/100
The presentation is repeatedly described as accurate, neutral and natural, with true piano tone, credible vocal presence and precise instrumental timbre. Gramophone found the balance unusually successful: clean and truthful without becoming sterile, with a slight softening of potentially fatiguing extremes.
Dynamics
92/100
Kramer heard satisfying dynamics, a solid and realistic kick drum, and bass with powerful clout but virtually no overhang. Garrecht likewise praised gripping guitar transients, rhythmic drive, and a low end with authority, definition and punch.
Soundstage Imaging
91/100
The Mk II is said to preserve a truthful, dimensional soundstage rather than artificially enlarging it in the manner of some valve designs. Reviewers also heard precisely centered vocals, strong image presence and audience sounds extending beyond the listening-room boundaries; Garrecht reported a notably larger stage from a preferred streaming path.
Assessments of Build Quality, Usability, and Overall Propositions.
Build Quality
94/100
Kramer calls the Mk II superbly built and first-class in execution. Gramophone found the chassis substantial and the internal layout notably neat and orderly, citing excellent power supplies and high-quality Neutrik, Furutech and digital connectors.
Features Connectivity
94/100
This is an unusually comprehensive control center, combining extensive balanced and single-ended analogue I/O with USB, Ethernet, AES/EBU, coaxial and optical digital inputs. It also includes configurable outputs and subwoofer integration, MM/MC phono capability, DAC and streaming functions, headphone amplification, touchscreen/app/remote operation, EQ and tone controls, balance adjustment, and optional HDMI capability.
Value for Money
88/100
At roughly US$11,500-$13,000, the Delta PRE Mk II is a substantial investment, but reviewers find its premium well supported by the breadth and quality of its implementation. Kramer judged its DAC competitive with separate units costing up to AU$10,000 or more, while Garrecht felt the circuit upgrades justified the price increase and noted that it offers far more functionality than a costly standalone DAC.
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Specifications
- OVERALL DIMENSIONS
- Width : 17.48 in (444 mm) Depth (including connectors) : 17.64 in (448 mm) Height (including feet) : 4.72 in (120 mm)
- WEIGHT
- Gross Weight : 41.2 lbs (18.7kg) Net Weight : 29.8 lbs (13.5kg)
- GENERAL
- Gain Range : -93dB to +14dB Channel Matching : 0.05dB Input Impedance (at 1kHz, BAL / SE) : 50kΩ Output Impedance BAL / SE : 200Ω / 50Ω Maximum Output Level BAL / SE : 18Vrms / 9Vrms
- BYPASS MODE (Analog inputs, Tone / EQ / Subwoofers disabled)
- Frequency Response (-3dB, 50Ω source impedance) : 1Hz – 2MHz Harmonic Distortion (measurement bandwidth: 90kHz) : <0.0004% at 1kHz <0.0005% at 10kHz <0.0006% at 20kHz Intermodulation Distortion (measurement bandwidth: 90kHz) : <0.001% Maximum Input Level BAL / SE (at 0dB gain) : 9Vrms (+21.3dBu) / 4.5Vrms (+15.3dBu) Signal-to-Noise Ratio (A wtd) (22kHz BW, ref 9Vrms) : 130dB (133dBA) Crosstalk (one channel undriven) (BAL / SE) : -143dB (100Hz), -140dB (1kHz), -124dB (10kHz)
- PHONO SECTION (0DB GAIN, BYPASS MODE, XLR2 IN, MAIN XLR OUT)
- RIAA Deviation (20Hz-20kHz) : < 0.2dB Selectable Load for MM Type (47k II) : 50pF, 100pF, 150pF, 200pF, 250pF, 300pF, 350pF, 400pF, 450pF Selectable Load for MC – Low Output : 7.5Ω, 10Ω, 33Ω, 50Ω, 82Ω, 100Ω, 330Ω, 1kΩ Load for MC – High Output : 47kΩ
- MM, MC – HIGH OUTPUT
- Gain (1kHz, 20Ω source impedance) : 41.5dB SNR (22kHz BW, ref 5mVrms in) : 86dB (93dB A-wtd) Max Input Level (overload ref 5mVrms) : 11dB (20Hz), 23dB (1kHz), 34dB (10kHz)
- MC – LOW OUTPUT
- Gain (1kHz, 20Ω source impedance, 1kΩ load) : 60dB SNR (20Hz-20kHz) : 68dB (74dB A-wtd) Max Input Level (overload ref 0.5mVrms, 1kΩ load) : 12dB (20Hz), 31dB (1kHz), 52dB (10kHz)
- DAC SECTION (DIGITAL INPUTS, TONE/EQ/SUBWOOFERS DISABLED)
- Frequency Response (-3dB, sweep Fs=192kHz) : 5Hz – 90kHz Harmonic Distortion (measurement bandwidth: 90kHz) : <0.0015% (20Hz to 20kHz) Dynamic range (-60dBFS, Fs=44.1kHz, A-wtd) : 124dB Signal to Noise Ratio (Fs=44.1kHz, A-wtd) : 125dB (dBA)
- DSP MODE (TONE OR EQ CONTROLS ENABLED, SET TO FLAT UNLESS NOTED)
- Frequency Response (50Ω source impedance, Tone and EQ not enabled) : 10Hz – 84.5kHz Harmonic Distortion (measurement bandwidth: 90kHz) : <0.002% (20Hz to 20kHz) Maximum input level BAL / SE (at 0dB gain) : 5.4Vrms (+2.5dBr) / 2.7Vrms (+2.5dBr) Crosstalk (one channel undriven) (BAL/SE) : -105dB(100Hz), -120dB(1kHz), -120dB(10kHz)
- HEADPHONE OUTPUT
- Power (nominal input. 0dB gain, 32 Ω load) : 540mW Output Impedance : 6.8Ω
- POWER REQUIREMENTS
- Standby : 0.2W Wake on LAN : 3.1W Nominal : 35W Max. power : 55W
- HEOS BUILT IN
- Network Connection : Ethernet USB-A Host : WMA, MP3, AAC, WAV up to 192/24, FLAC up to 192/24, AIFF up to 192/24, ALAC up to 96/24, DSF up to 11.2 Ethernet : WMA, MP3, AAC, WAV up to 192/24, FLAC up to 192/24, AIFF up to 192/24, ALAC up to 96/24, DSF up to 11.2 Airplay : Airplay 2 Music Service Providers Supported (varies by region, subject to change) : Spotify (Connect), Tidal (including Hi Res), Deezer, Amazon Music HD, TuneIn, Pandora, Napster, iHeartRadio, Sirus XM, Soundcloud, MOOD:MIX, AWA, QPlay, Ximalaya, Sony Hi-Res
- DAC INPUTS
- USB-B : 32k, 44.1k, 48k, 88.2k, 96k, 176.4k, 192k, 352.8k, 384k DSD64, DSD128, DSD256 (native – requires Thesycon/Classe driver for Windows) DSD64, DSD128 (DoP) SPDIF (opt, coax, AES/EBU) : PCM 32k, 44.1k, 48k, 88.2k, 96k, 176.4k, 192k W/DSD64 over SPDIF/
- INPUT / OUTPUT COMPLEMENT ANALOG IN
- BAL / XLR : 2 pairs (XLR2 can be assigned as BAL phono in) SE / RCA : 2 pairs Phono RCA : 1 pair
- DIGITAL IN
- USB-F : 1 USB-B : 1 SPDIF Coaxial : 3 SPDIF Optical : 3 SPDIF AES / EBU : 1 Ethernet : 1
- OUTPUTS
- BAL / XLR : 5 (configurable: 2pairs+1sub, 1pair+1sub pair,…) SE / RCA : 5 (configurable: 2pairs+1sub, 1pair+1sub pair,…)
- AUTOMATION
- DC Triggers In / Out : 2 sets CAN Bus : 1 set in / out RS-232 over RJ-45 : 1
Manufacturer's Description — Classé Audio
PRE AMPLIFIER
The Delta PRE Mk II is the foundation of your perfect system. Designed to connect to a range of sources, the PRE Mk II will exact the highest performance from every recording, whether analog or digital.
Delta PRE Mk II will deliver perfectly balanced audio to downstream Delta components.
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- Abt Electronics — online and in-store — Glenview, Illinois, United States (website)
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- Alta Fedelta — online and in-store — Lombardia, Italy (website)
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