Old Classe pre-amps vs. new?

Go for the newer for sure, if you can find the CP50 or CP60 even better. You don't see them for sale much because they are "keepers"! That's a great amp too, I had one, matched up with Classe CDP .5 and the CP 50 wish I'd kept the whole system! good luck

You are compaing the old/Dave Reich to the non-DR designed units.I prefer the older units.Maybe slightly darker,but have a little more magic in the mids.My vote goes to the DR-5/6.

Yep the older DR series amps are nice but I don't think the sames holds for the preamps. The new series have the warmth to them and offer a lot better resolution on a wider variety of materials. Also owner the CA oo series amps and currentluy still have a CA301 mated to a CP 65. Ifyou can find a CP 50 CP 60 or CP 65 they are much more refined and in my opinion don't lose much of anything to the new Delta series