Class of operation for Tube Power Amps


My understanding is tube amplifiers can be ran in Class A or Class A/B operation just like Solid State amps. MANY tube amps do not say what class they are running. If they don't say this in the specifications do you just assume the are Class A/B. How can you tell?

willywonka

Showing 1 response by glennewdick

Not always will the number of output tubes dictate if it’s class A or A/B there are a few parallel class A amps with more than one output tube per channel. I know a couple of parallel class A SET’s for example.

I think doing a quick search on the amp in question on the internet will tell you quickly what class type it is. Most amp makers that are using a different class design i.e. parallel, etc. will state that as a selling feature.

Heat won’t really tell you much in a tube amp as tubes need heaters to function and they make more heat than the class type, usually.