Why would anyone want class AB amp when class A always sounds better ?

Very interesting topic.  My partner and I just finished building a pair of mono block El-34 pure Class A power amplifiers.  Took them to a customers home to compare to his Jeff Rowland Model 7 mono blocks driving Mirage M-1si speakers, probably like 85 db.  The Rowlands controlled the bass a little better (Update - just added a larger capacitor size and the bass was even better with the Class A amps but we would have to go back to compare).  The rest as they say is history. The Class A had tone, musicality, dimension, that made the music so beautiful, piano was just stunning.  We were stunned on how good an old Cat Stevens CD sounded and a few tracks of the old Jeff Beck CD Blow by Blow, Santana Abraxas, etc.  The guys wife's eyes actually teared up.

Oh sure like someone already stated above, it comes down to the design implementation.  There are some Class A amplifiers that probably are not as good sounding as class A/B amplifiers, I have not heard every single one of them so who knows but in designing amplifiers, we have not been able to make one that sounds better to our own ears.  Do Class A products run hot, sure do.  Does that mean they won't last as long, no it does not.  As for head room, that depends on the design - that can happen with any amplifier not matter how many watts they are rated.  But the pair we just finished are simply killer!  My Vandersteen Model 5As never sounded so good.

Happy Listening.  

My buddy has Klipschorn corner speakers.  He runs them with CJ premier mono block tube amps.  So tonight I brought over an old class A stereo amp my partner put together with some old parts we had laying around. 1.5wpc 45 tube pure class A.  Needless to day the Class A walked all over the CJs.  It was not even close - better everything including more bass and deeper bass output from 1.5 watts.  Music just poured out of the system, tone and space was killer, wide open musical sound.  So dynamic and delicate at the same time.  I may have to get some horn speakers now!

Happy Listening. 

Anyone in the NYC area - Northern NJ area who would like to hear the differences, send me a PM.  I would be more than happy to show you differences in equipment - Class A tube, Class A SS, Hybrid amplifiers, Direct Heated Triode components, etc.  I'll even supply the pizza.  Bring your amp if you like!

Happy Listening.  

@michaelc2020
If you are eve in the NYC area let me know  I can should you a pure 1 watt amp on a pair of Klipschorns that sound simple beautiful.

Happy Listening.

@audioman58That being said , inside the Quality of the parts have much more to do with the final result of the sound.

I would have normally agreed with your statement but last night hearing an OK to good parts preamp it was so close in sound to the better parts model we build I began to wonder if paying for custom transformers, resistors, capacitors, separate chassis, etc. was worth it.  So close it was confusing to us and made me think that we have now come full circle.  Still point-to-point wired and good parts but so close.

Happy Listening.