Classe DR-25 worth buying?

I have the Classe DR-25 and love it.

My system:
Audio Research LS-9
Theta David
Bel Canto DAC2
Transparent Super interconnects
Martin Logan SL3 speakers

The Martin Logans require a lot of power, and the Classe never fails to deliver. Additionally, the SL3 has a poorer integration of the stat and woofer than other Martin Logans, yet the Classe has such command over the woofer that I no longer notice the variation. Also, it's incredibly sweet on good recordings and extremely detailed, yet is forgiving enough to make very enjoyable music even on my old 80's CD's. I took a chance on the DR-25 because I got a great deal on Audiogon a while back and I'm pleased I did. I paid about 1200 plus shipping, and I imagine that with power hungry speakers it would best even top-rated amps such as the BAT VK-200. It certainly beat the later model Classe CA-150's that I tried with the SL3's at my dealers.

Wow, I didn't notice this old thread came back to life! I have been looking for an older Classe DR3 vhc for the Scintillas. That being said I am currently (good pun for Apogees) using a pair of Conrad Johnson Evolution 2000's which power the Scintillas well. Bob

In excellent condition and amazingly musical Classe audio DR 25 power ampliier with silver face plate
Designed by legendary Glen G

Though rated at 250w rms output its high current doubles into 4 ohms and power consumption is at max 2000w -
Currently set up for XLR balanced connection but can be changed to RCA inputs - by moving the jumpers inside

Sounds incredible driving Rega R9 s or NHT classic 4 s with Audionet MAP pre/pro running in pure analog balanced xlr mode thru Transperant super music link XL s
Audionet MAP has the award winning Audionet pre1 g2 full analog board in it and Classe dr 25 clearly distinguished the sonic improvement s across the spectrum from the Arcam c31 ( also in the pic) when compared - which proves how truthfully it amplifies the signal !!

baranyi
Classe DR-25 worth buying?

I had one, tried to give it some "life" for want of a better words with some mods, improved it a little but still sounded a little dynamically lame. Plenty watts and current, would drive anything just a little "lame". Too smooth a bit like sacd sounds to me, lacking in boogie factor and bounce.

Cheers George

The DR-25 is a great amp, just slightly dark sounding which is a plus with current hungry speakers that tend toward the bright side. I still own the one I bought new in 1989 and have used it with great success with Apogees and Thiels over the years.

It will sound much better using the SE RCA inputs rather than XLR as it is a single-ended design and the XLR inputs used a cheap opamp to convert the signal to SE since its designer, Dave Reich never intended for it to be used in this fashion. This is why it has a reputation among some for lacking sparkle and dynamic drive.

No need to change any jumpers on the inside of the DR-25 to switch from SE to XLR (or from stereo to bridged mode) as on the earlier DR amps. There is a toggle switch on the rear panel for that.

BTW - The DR-25, its siblings, and its predecessors were designed by the great Dave Reich. Glen Grue was the marketing guy that joined Classe about the time the DR-9 was released and "participated" in design decisions for the DR-25’s successor, the Twenty Five and its siblings (minor changes to the output stage from the DR series) after Dave Reich was ruthlessly driven away from the company that he founded.

Dave