classe twenty five and classe fifteen

I bought a DR-25 in 1989 to drive a pair of Apogee Stages, later used it to drive Apogee Duetta Signatures, and still use it today in bridged mono mode to drive the Martin Logan Stage center channel in my HT setup. The 25 was simply a change in name from the DR-25 since Dave Reich (DR) left Classe' in about 1991 and they had to drop the DR in the name.

The 25 is an excellent amp. It outputs 250 w/ch into 8 ohms and doubles up as the speaker impedance halves (500w/ch into 4 ohms and 1000 w/ch into 2 ohms). It delivers lots of current as well. It runs relatively cool for a high power design and is as reliable as a brick.

The 25 is refined and dynamic, if a little dark, and can easily drive most speakers with low efficiency and/or low impedance loads. Mine has been in service for 20 years and is still going strong. Never ever had it go into protection mode, even driving Apogees and Thiels at high volumes.

I never owned the 15 but did try a DR-10 before (quickly) trading up to the 25 and there was no contest. The 10 was dull and lifeless compared to the 25. Even though I did not have the money at the time for the 25, the difference was so profound that I bit the bullet and traded up within a week. Can't recall exactly how I swung the extra $2500 for it, but I did and it has proven to be one of the best audio investments I have made.

I have heard the fifteen in a few systems and feel that it is, predictably, halfway in between the 10 and the 25. My advice is to hold out for a 25. You will be glad you did.

Good luck.

I was a Classe dealer for many years and concure that the 25 is an excellent amp. The 15 was also very good, but the 25 was better.

There were actually a few small changes from the "DR" series to the "numbered" series:

The improvements to the Ten, Fifteen and Twenty Five vs the DR-10, DR-15 and the DR-25 are as follows:

* Current delivery to the front end was improved with better impedance matching between supply and signal bearing circuitry.

* Amount of input stage regulation was reduced.

* Output stage emitter resistor values were changed.

These changes resulted in the new amps sounding more alive and having more "jump factor". The DR series were a little darker and warmer sounding.

I still think the best sounding Classe amps were the DR3VHC and the DR8 and DR9.

Mofimadness,

I thought the same thing, but when I called B&W/Classe' Audio about 2 years ago to inquire about having my DR-25 upgraded to Twenty Five status, they told me that any changes between the models were extremely minor and that there would be no audible difference.

I'm sure that you are right. As the original owner, I was not entirely pleased with B&W's/Classe's reluctance toward helping me with that. I actually tried to contact Dave Reich, but apparently he is no longer involved in audio.

DR probably works better with forward speakers and the Twenty Five with laid back ones. Regardless, it is a hell of an amp. I don't think I would kick either out of bed ;)

Always heard good things about the first Dave Reich designs, but never actually heard them. Based on specs, they were not rated high on wattage, but I understand that ran in Class A all the way to clipping?