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Different amplifier class for different music genres?

I was reading a review of the Gryphon Antileon Evo in another forum and one user was saying that in the High bias mode the amplifier was excellent for classical music but not so good for metal or hard rock, perhaps softening the transients. For metal or hard rock he preferred the Low bias mode and he suggested that the Gryphon Diablo will be more suitable for this type of music (of course one is a final amp, the other an integrated one).

So the question is: does the class of the amplifier matter or better suit the type of music you are listening to? 

I have never owned a class A amplifier and I am itching to try some. I am currently using Hypex based diy monos driving Vienna Acoustics Mahler speakers.

greg_f
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,633 posts
 
So the question is: does the class of the amplifier matter or better suit the type of music you are listening to?
Not at all. The quality of reproduction is what matters and that has a lot to do with execution. No-one has yet sorted out a way to make any kind of audio circuit that favors one genre of music over another; anything you may have heard to the contrary is myth, maybe the most common myth in audio.
fiesta75
1,378 posts
 
NO, a good amplifier will play all music well. My favorite amps are Class A, but run warmer and use more power than Class AB or Class D. In my opinion, Class D sound a bit harsh.
fredapplegate
95 posts
 
IMHO: At a price point, maybe. If you need a lot of power at a good price, Class D does that. Class A does not. I think matching the amp to the speakers matters more than what you listen to. I had a Class A ARC Classic 60 that was glorious but I missed the oomph of my Moscode 600 Maxi, and I've finally decided (after 50+ years of this hobby) that having enough power matters a whole lot. (At the moment, I have an ARC VT100 driving Vandersteen 5s, but they have built-in powered subwoofers.)
And I think all amplifiers sound the same... until you connect them to speakers.
Good luck, and have fun!
mijostyn's avatar
mijostyn
8,228 posts
 
@atmasphere, the most common myth? That might be a tiny stretch. Lets just say one of many:-) 

There is no difference in the power needed to reproduce an orchestral crescendo as there is needed to reproduce Slipknot. A good amplifier speaker match will play anything. You can not talk about the amplifier without talking about the speaker. The two must match. There are amps that will drive anything. They tend to be big expensive bruits. While a SET amp may sound OK on certain very efficient loudspeakers it will die trying to drive Wilsons. An amp is going to sound different depending on the speaker it is driving and a speaker is going to sound different depending on which amp is driving it although there will be some basic characteristics that won't change such as dispersion and imaging. 
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,633 posts
 
The most common myth? That might be a tiny stretch. Lets just say one of many:-)
The reason I say that is because of how many times I've heard that JBL L-100s are one of the best rock speakers out there. This where there really isn't anything a speaker manufacturer can do to make the speaker favor a certain genre.

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