If you are looking for help from the user's manuals (manufacturer's instruction) you won't get much. I looked at the book from a Magnavox big screen TV with external speakers, Yamaha stereo amp, Optimus <cheap> stereo amp and some Labtec PC speakers. None address the <725> class or wiring method and they all have some nebulous lawyer speak about "not using near water".
Considering you can't even have 12vdc "malibu" lights within 5' of the water's edge I don't see much controversy about failing them although I do think I would be OK if these speakers were 12 feet "up".

Sorry it took me so long to post back.

Well, actually I guess I'm talking about both the wiring and the speaker. The speakers were within 5' so the wiring was also within that parameter.

The difference is that landscape lighting falls under article 411. Article 411 addresses low voltage lighting systems operating at 30 volts or less having a maximum output of 600 va.

Article 411.4 prohibits this type of lighting within 10 ft of a pool, spa, fountain, except as permitted by article 680.

Whereas 640.10(b) does not have the same restrictions for a class 2 installation since the va. ratings for class two wiring per 725 is limited to:
0-20 volts 5 x vmax
21-30 volts 100 va.
31-150 volts 0.5 va.

For this reason the fire and shock hazard is limited for class 2 wiring in comparison to the low voltage lighting systems in article 411.

That’s the code difference. The code has left that up to the manufacturer to make that determination. The code requires one to determine what the classification of the amplifier output is.

So I agree if there is no classification marked on the amplifier than I would require the installation to conform to 640.10(a) as we said in the beginning.

I apologize because I am confusing everyone with my reply. When I said "the wiring and the speaker," I meant the speaker wiring and the speaker. I understand about the landscape lighting and low volt wiring, my concern was primarily the speaker. I think you have answered all angles, thanks!

I knew dat.