suggestion for a SS class AB amp that sounds like a class A ... if such a thing exists


Looking for an amplifier below 2K for my Altec 620A (99 db efficiency). My actual amp is a Sugden A25B, which has 34 watts/chanel in class AB. Although quite musical, it lacks transparency and details. Of course, the best amplifier would be tube or class A but I'm trying to avoid these because of the heat and the electricity bill (my amp is on all day long). My short list include :

  • Audio by Van Alstine Set-120
  • Ayre AX 7e (used)
  • Sugden Mystro (class AB)
  • Benchmark AHB2 (used)

NOTE : please, no class D since I'm not familiar with it (and pretty skeptic too).
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Thank you all for your suggestions ... they are greatly appreciated ... I am researching each of them and added to my list the Belles Aria, Plinius 8100, Portal Panache and Odyssey khartago ... Apart from the Belle Aria, all have 100 watts / channel (or more) ... as my speakers are 100 db efficient, I won't use all that power ... my current amp is 34 watts / channel and it can drive my Altec hard enough ... I'd rather have a great sounding amplifier of 50 watts (plus or less 10 watts) than a 100 watts (or more) ... thanks!
The Benchmark distortion at low power, i.e. where crossover distortion comes into play is every bit as good and probably better than most Class-A. Same would be true of several new Class D amps.


Nothing repeat nothing! solid state A/B (low bias A) sounds like a 20w> high bias Class-A amp.
As there is no xover distortion in Class-A when the top and bottom transistors switch over from each other, because they’re still both biased into Class-A.



Luxman M-900u is tha best. 150 W. RMS Will make any PassLabs class A amp sound broken...

First 12 Watts high bias class A. With most speakers, you never get out of the class A range.
FYI, for anyone following this thread, I've decided to sell my Atoll IN200 SE. If you're interested, feel free to p.m. me.