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Class A into Class AB

I’m still a little confused about power amplifiers and integrated amplifiers that are class A & class A/B. Like when they say the first 8 watts are class A then it goes into 400watts class A/B. But the same amplifier can be biased to put out 12watts class A then go into 250watts class A/B. It can be biased again for 18watts class A and 150watts class A/B. etc. Ive read that these amplifiers, ones that can be biased like that...and in general all the "first X amount of watts are class A before going into class A/B"...that those first X amount of class A watts is NOT true class A. If that’s true...what is it then? What’s "kind of" class A mean? What’s the point of a "first X amount of watts are class A" then?

tmac1700

Showing 1 response by charles1dad

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charles1dad
10,236 posts
 

@boomerbillone 

Now you know why people love their 8 watt, Class A, 300B tube amps!  An occasional distorted, 10 watt peak isn't much to worry about if you normally listen at one half of a watt!  Happy Listening

True, and depending on the speaker sensitivity (And listening distance from the speakers)  maybe only utilizing 1/20 to 1/10th  of a watt at reasonable listening levels (65-75 db).

Charles 

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