It is hard to generalize among class A amps. There are class A amps that are still flat, strident, and dull.
Moving from a class AB to a class A topology, you might experience:
Increase in dynamics. Music is more energetic, punchy, rounded.
Less compression of the soundstage width and depth.
Better delineation of details with less strain or harshness.
I know this because I had an amp that could switch between A and A/B. The difference is not even close. It is like going from mono to stereo. I would not say that class A resulted in an artifically smooth sound, but there was more ease and less strain.
As said, there are great Class A amps, and inconsequential Class A amps. But keeping everything else constant except the A and A/B designation, the A should have a more satisfying sound.
The Pass XA.5 has a warmer midrange with more textural and harmonic richness compared with many SS amps. I would say that is more by design throughout, than due purely to class A.
Moving from a class AB to a class A topology, you might experience:
Increase in dynamics. Music is more energetic, punchy, rounded.
Less compression of the soundstage width and depth.
Better delineation of details with less strain or harshness.
I know this because I had an amp that could switch between A and A/B. The difference is not even close. It is like going from mono to stereo. I would not say that class A resulted in an artifically smooth sound, but there was more ease and less strain.
As said, there are great Class A amps, and inconsequential Class A amps. But keeping everything else constant except the A and A/B designation, the A should have a more satisfying sound.
The Pass XA.5 has a warmer midrange with more textural and harmonic richness compared with many SS amps. I would say that is more by design throughout, than due purely to class A.