Worth upgrading from Classe cap 101 to cap151 ???

I'm not familiar with the sound of the 101 or 151, although I'm a relatively heavy Classe user (SSP-75, CA-200, CDP-.5).

It all boils down to what you'd be tryimg to achieve in the upgrade. The big differences that I can see between the two in question are raw output (100 vs 150 wpc) and current reserves. The raw output isn't significantly different - to go 3dB louder you need to double the power output, so a 200wpc is the next step up. There's the headroom consideration but this too isn't much different, and the current reserves aren't much different either. There are probably some slightly better parts in the 151, but overall it probably isn't much of an audible upgrade for you.

If you're trying for more headroom or less strain (hard to tell since you didn't describe the sound you get now), something like a CA-201/301/401 would probably accomplish that. Those amps are a LOT more powerful. In such a scenario you'd probably keep using your CAP101 as a preamp and use the external amp for power.

But tell us more about what music you like, how you like to play it, what your room is like and what problems you have to solve. Then we can help you more.

The CA-201/301/401 are pure power amplifiers, you'll need a line stage too. (They're 200/300/400 wpc, in case that's not obvious.) My suggestion is that the next step is to buy one of the heavy-duty power amps and use the CP-101 integrated's line stage as a preamp. The step after that would be to upgrade the line stage to something like a CP-45 or CP-65 and move the CA-101 to your office or some other function.

Given the size of the room (30' x 25' x 12' = 9000 cubic feet) you almost certainly need a WHOLE LOT of power on some kinds of music. I'm not into overkill but really I'd say that with that size room it's really going to use it.

Not that you necessarily want to feed the insanity, but here are a couple of more things to think about:

- The CA-200/300/400 family are quite similar to the 201/301/401, but slightly older. They are excellent pieces too, and generally cost somewhat less given their age. I've got a CA-200 and I am quite satisfied. I've heard a few opinions that say that the older family is better than the new one. I don't agree, but it hasn't been just one person who's said this, so obviously there's a mixed opinion out there.

- Apparently it is possible to upgrade a CA-x00 to a CA-x01, for some amount of money. I've just heard about this, and I don't know how much it costs. Might be inexpensive, but then just shipping these puppies isn't that cheap.

- Buy these used. There are always a number of them up for sale here on the 'Gon, and they are excellent value on the used market.

- There's always the Classe Omega family to step up to when this gets out of hand :-)