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Are There Any Inherent Advantages to Class A amps?

All things being equal, power supply size, wpc into 2 ohms and everything else, Is a class A design inherently better than an A/B design? Disregarding the heat issue with class A amps, what makes them so desirable?

I'm saving my money for a pair of used serious monoblocs. I'm thinking a pair of used Pass X-600 monos or a pair of used Krell 750 monos. On the used market, the Krells are approx twice the cost of the Pass monos.

The Krells are pure class A, the Pass are class A for the first 160 watts, then they go to A/B.
mitch4t

Showing 3 responses by rauliruegas

rauliruegas
13,125 posts
 
Dear Mitch4t: Switching-cross distortion: as a fact almost every amplifier works in class AB, what this means?: that it works in class A, for a few or severals watts, and in some time switch to works in class B. So, there are amplifiers that works the first 5, 10, 50, 100 watts in class A and when you are asking for more ( watts ) switch to class B.
This switching-cross distortion ( up and down ) it can be audible. So, a pure class A amplifier does not have this switching distortion because always is working in class A and this is the inherent advantage of pure class A. Theoricaletly the class A has less distortion than class B ( it can be measured ) but it is almost inaudible ( in good designed amplifiers ) , example: if you have two amplifiers ( that have same specifications, design and designer ), one pure class A and one pure class B, working between their best linear power ( not near clipping point ) it is almost immposible to detect any differences in the quality of the sound reproduction .
BTW, I don't know why you need the Krells 750 or the Pass XA 600 in an audio system where your front loudspeakers are biamplified. Can you explain this?
Regards and always enjoy the music.
Raul.
rauliruegas
13,125 posts
 
Dear Mitch4t: I think that the JC-1 by Parasound it will be a good alternative to you and for the price you can get four units for bi-amp instead two Krells/Pass
Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
rauliruegas
13,125 posts
 
Dear Mitch: It can drive low impedances with out any problem and their bass reproduction is stuning.
Like I told you, you can get four of these exellent amplifiers for bi-amp. I agree with you that the best way to do the bi-amp is with the same model of amplifiers.
Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.
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