Mithch2: "If I were to generalize based on my experience, in an attempt to answer your question, I would say well designed Class A amps, when compared to well designed AB amps, offer “sweeter” sounding high frequencies with less tendency towards grain or harshness, seductive midranges that are generally full and rich sounding with excellent harmonics, as well as being more dimensional..."
TY, Mitch--I could not have written it better nor agreed more. To my 67-year-old (non-Golden) ears, the really good Class-A amps sound just a little bit smoother--less edgy, grainy--but still highy detailed.
I've had (and LOVED) Vandersteen 5As for months. Altho they're relatively insensitive at c. 87dB, a few weeks ago I bought and started using on the 5As two pairs of twenty-year-old Marantz MA-24s.
http://www.dutchaudioclassics.nl/Marantz_MA-24_Music_Link_power_amplifier/
They're rated at 30 into 8 and 60 into 4, and with 4 amps driving the 5As' 6-to-4-Ohm impedance, combined maximum continuous power is around 200. That's plenty enough for me, even in my largish--c. 3200CF--room. These amps never sound gritty, edgy, grainy--and are always detailed and musical. They are indeed full-Class-A and do get hot, but that's certainly manageable in my room.
Class-A is a design tool that I appreciate and can afford, and my Class-A amps sound fabulous to me. Other amps sound great, too, and I don't argue with anyone who chooses not to buy Class-A amps. We're blessed with LOTS of fine-sounding amp to choose from.
.
TY, Mitch--I could not have written it better nor agreed more. To my 67-year-old (non-Golden) ears, the really good Class-A amps sound just a little bit smoother--less edgy, grainy--but still highy detailed.
I've had (and LOVED) Vandersteen 5As for months. Altho they're relatively insensitive at c. 87dB, a few weeks ago I bought and started using on the 5As two pairs of twenty-year-old Marantz MA-24s.
http://www.dutchaudioclassics.nl/Marantz_MA-24_Music_Link_power_amplifier/
They're rated at 30 into 8 and 60 into 4, and with 4 amps driving the 5As' 6-to-4-Ohm impedance, combined maximum continuous power is around 200. That's plenty enough for me, even in my largish--c. 3200CF--room. These amps never sound gritty, edgy, grainy--and are always detailed and musical. They are indeed full-Class-A and do get hot, but that's certainly manageable in my room.
Class-A is a design tool that I appreciate and can afford, and my Class-A amps sound fabulous to me. Other amps sound great, too, and I don't argue with anyone who chooses not to buy Class-A amps. We're blessed with LOTS of fine-sounding amp to choose from.
.