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Pure class A amplifiers = "slow" amplifiers?

Hi folks, I know this is subject of controversy. In general pure class A has been regarded as the best way in solid state amplification to get the purest sound. In my experience many pure class A solid state amplifiers (Accuphase, Pass Labs, Plinius) sound "slow" and are lacking "dynamics". Do they sound that way because they have less distortion than class A/B amplifiers, I mean sometimes a signal is so pure that one is increasing the volume adjustment knob to get a louder sound. With a very pure sound it seems like music goes slower too (= psychoacoustic phenomenon).

Chris
dazzdax

Showing 1 response by kirkus

kirkus
502 posts
 
The thing that makes this comparison tough is that in order to be valid, the amps you're comparing (class A to class AB, etc.) have to be the same in other ways as well . . . and this may not be the case in your experience.

I would hypothesize that the class A designs you're associating the "slow" sound with also are single-ended or zero-feedback designs that have a comparitively high output impedance, which will definately affect most loudspeakers' response in such a way as to change the way you percieve timing information.
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