Actually difference between class A and AB?


Class A amp sounds like holy grail of HIFI world.
But class A amp are much heavier, more expensive and rarer than class AB or class B design. Few can afford 100 LB weight of a 2-channel 100w/c amp.

Is there any actual difference between class A and class AB when listening to actual music? And what is that difference?
hl10027

Showing 2 responses by rayooo

I recently compared 3 amplifiers, 1 Stereo, and 2 pairs of Monoblocks. The Stereo and 1 monoblock pair were reportedly standard class AB, with the stereo amp claiming "high-bias".
The 2nd Monoblock pair was reported to run class A up to a point.

The "class A/AB" monoblocks ran much hotter than the other amps, no surprise there.

In my case, I felt that at low listening levels the ClassA amp was in fact superior. I fell into using the term "inner detail". Whether that's the correct term from the Audiophile dictionary or not, I have no idea. I was absolutely convinced I could here more detail with the Class A/AB amps. I considered those monoblocks superior to both AB amps. At louder listening I felt this difference disappeared.

I consider myself NO golden ear and I don't subscribe to the tweek of the week, so the above is simply my 2cents worth on the subject.