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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 pinkus

pinkus
144 posts
 
Dazzdax,

I think I understand where you are coming from. When I first heard my Nagra VPA tube amps (which are Class A), I experienced the same thing. In fact, when I first inserted them into the system, the music seemed less dense, and slow...there was no sense of urgency to the music. But there was a sense of "rightness" to the music that I cannot describe.

Your hunch about the lack of distortion is what my hunch is...of course over time, once my ears adjusted to the new sound, and now I no longer experience the "slowness".

Thanks
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