Class A Solid State Sound

Lets not forget the difference feedback can make. 

IMHO it is nearly impossible to talk purely about the output stage class in isolation of the feedback method, if any.


Also, with so many high bias AB amps, I venture to say you listen to them mostly in their A range anyway.


3 Amps I think you should listen to, are Luxman, Ayre and Pass. I can't see you loving all of them at once. Sorry, no experience with Accuphase, however if you are the US distributor and wish to provide me with a review sample, message me. :)


Best,
E

If memory serves, BTL usually raises the total output impedance. Perhaps that's a contributing factor in liking it or not?


Otherwise, the discussion about current/power delivery in MOSFETs vs bi-polar transistors is silly. Parallel devices, driver stages and feedback are all able to create any amount of current and power with either device type.

Which brings me to another point: Feedback, and lack thereof, can have a profound effect on the amp sound and characteristics. Luxman amps rely heavily on global feedback in their Class A amps, and they are fabulous. Some other Class A makers use local or no feedback at all. I suspect that speaker matching, and what sound you like lies largely here.

I like talking tech but i don't think attributing a sound to a transistor is useful anymore. 

Pass tunes his amps for high second order distortion and his fans love it.