I had a SA-12 upgraded to a SA-100 and the sound was less warm IMO. Because Counterpoint has such a forward sound in the mids, you really need top equipment and cables or it will sound etched in the mids.
I have not heard Classe often, but I believe the Classe would be warmer sounding.
However, if you have speakers with great resolving power in the mids, you might like the Counterpoint. I used it with Vandersteen 3a's(not the signiture) and they didn't have the midrange clarity and didn't match well.
I now have Avalon Arcus and it probably would have matched up better with the Counterpoint.
I have not heard Classe often, but I believe the Classe would be warmer sounding.
However, if you have speakers with great resolving power in the mids, you might like the Counterpoint. I used it with Vandersteen 3a's(not the signiture) and they didn't have the midrange clarity and didn't match well.
I now have Avalon Arcus and it probably would have matched up better with the Counterpoint.