Sound United Revives Classe Audio Lineup With Third-Gen Delta Series Amplifiers

Sound United officially launched the long-awaited third generation of the Classe Audio Delta Series Tuesday at CES. The line includes the Delta Mono and Stereo amplifiers and a preamp. Sound United bought the Classe brand from Bowers & Wilkins two years ago (see 1801070004); the high-end audio line had been in limbo since EVA Automation acquired B&W in 2016 (see 1606300059). The Delta trio is available at qualified Classe dealers in the U.S. at $12,999 for the Stereo, $10,999 for the Mono and $9,999 for the Pre. Classe Brand Director Dave Nauber emailed that no products were introduced under EVA ownership, but development on the Classe line continued as the brand transitioned to Sound United two years ago. “Since then we have been moving manufacturing from the B&W facility in China to Shirakawa Audio Works in Japan,” he said. That “took longer than expected,” said the executive, crediting parent Sound United for not rushing product to market or taking shortcuts. “They have been consistent, doing what they said since before the acquisition was finalized, that everything needed to be done correctly,” he said. Sound United will be giving “most” former Classe dealers first right of refusal for the new line, but they won’t all be automatically qualified, Nauber said: “Distribution will be more exclusive than it was, which is appropriate since these are more expensive products.” He expects the North America market to generate 40 percent of global business. That could increase when the company starts delivering multichannel products, Nauber said.