Plinius considers all-NPN to be a good way to go for their high-end models, even today. I personally find it a bit clumsy, and that alone might be worse off than slightly different transistor characteristics. Nature seems to value simplicity more highly than complexity.
I agree that many amps marketed as "class AB" are really Class B. The threshold between the two is whatever one wants it to be these days.
I disagree with the "amplifier phase delay" problems with horizontal biamping. There are plenty more phase-inducing circumstances in the system that are worse than the phase of a linear amp, like the speaker drivers' phases. Whether or not a particular horizontal biamp will work well is more dependent on luck than technicalities. However, in vertical biamping, you need the same amps because they are each reproducing the same frequencies and, as most of us know, not all amps sound the same.
Gp phan - Don't worry about what Class the amp is. Just listen and enjoy. If you are really curious about a Class A, just get one and try it for yourself. Besides, there is a lot of sonic performance overlap between Classes. Potential merits can be discussed all day but in the end, they really don't matter. Afterall, it is the sound that should count most.
Arthur
I agree that many amps marketed as "class AB" are really Class B. The threshold between the two is whatever one wants it to be these days.
I disagree with the "amplifier phase delay" problems with horizontal biamping. There are plenty more phase-inducing circumstances in the system that are worse than the phase of a linear amp, like the speaker drivers' phases. Whether or not a particular horizontal biamp will work well is more dependent on luck than technicalities. However, in vertical biamping, you need the same amps because they are each reproducing the same frequencies and, as most of us know, not all amps sound the same.
Gp phan - Don't worry about what Class the amp is. Just listen and enjoy. If you are really curious about a Class A, just get one and try it for yourself. Besides, there is a lot of sonic performance overlap between Classes. Potential merits can be discussed all day but in the end, they really don't matter. Afterall, it is the sound that should count most.
Arthur