Are There Any Inherent Advantages to Class A amps?

Jeffrey,

We are NOT splitting hairs - go back and read Steve's post -
where he states, "Class A amps BY DEFINITION amplify
through 360 of the duty cycle. Class A amps ARE NOT
push pull!!!"

A true Class A amp does not have two "mirror-image"
amplifier chains - one for the positive half of the wave,
and one for the negative half of the wave - as is found in
push/pull.

In a true Class A amp, a single amplifier chain is biased
to conduct through all 360 degrees of the waveform.

Dr. Gregory Greenman

As others have stated - the Krell FPB "Class A" series are
Classe A up to their rated output.

A Class A amp can't switch to Class A/B - it doesn't have
the second "mirror-image" amplifier chain to handle the
opposite polarity. An amp that is Class A only has a single
chain - and it is biased so that it conducts during 100% of
the cycle - both positive and negative.

The Krell KAV series amps are Class A/B.

The advantage of a Class A amp is that there is no
"crossing distortion"; inherently. The amp does not
shuffle the load back and forth between an amp chain that
handles the positive half of the cycle and an amp chain
that handles the negative half.

In a Class A amp, a single amp chain handles 100% of the
cycle - so there's no distortion due to the "hand-off" to
the other chain - because there is no "hand-off".

Additionally, the latest offerings from Krell - the
"x-series" [ because the model number ends in "x" -
e.g. FPB-400cx] are somewhat of a departure from the
earlier Krell amps. They have gone away from the typical
"Krell sound" and lean toward a sweeter, more musical
presentation.

Dr. Gregory Greenman
Physicist