2. amps-preamps
  3. 169893-155348

Class A into Class AB

What is the goal of a designer who makes intergrated amps that have class A for x amount of watts before it goes into class AB? Are there any examples of this being implemented well? I get this feeling that it’s kind of just a marketing thing...where people think they are getting some quality class A without the very high price tag. I was particularly looking at the CODA CSiB amps where you have three choices of how much of your first watts are class A. I have since found a few other respectable brands that implement this as well. I have yet to come across anyone who has heard much of difference between AB amps and one’s that’s state "first X amount of watts..." Class A/AB. Anyone have any experience with these kind of integrated amplifiers? Just looking for a little bit of understanding as I’m trying to upgrade my amplifier.
tmac1700
mozartfan
2,143 posts
 
tom68971,405 posts10-09-2021 1:14amTo me the first few watts of class A are the most important. That is where 85%+ of your listening will exist
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
La Creame de la creame.
Great Britain calls it  Double  Cream*  When fresh cows milk settles, the  top layer of the cream layer. = Double cream. 

With 92 db sens wide band, only 5% of the Defy's 100 watts are needeed.
Class A, class A/B is  not important. 
At 5% , Class is irrelevant.
I listen at very moderate SPL levels, maybe 75 db tops.
Even though low SPL and very near field, I still want higher sens speakers. 
Doing it all over again, I would  have a  much smaller amplifier.  with exact same results. 
IMHO 40 true watts,,make that ~~30~~~ true watts is  really more than enough power. 

jjss49's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
jjss49
6,612 posts
 
What is the goal of a designer who makes intergrated amps that have class A for x amount of watts before it goes into class AB?

to provide a balance between purity of sound for most of the listening experience, versus heat, cost (of the unit and energy use), volume headroom, weight/size of the unit

Are there any examples of this being implemented well?

yes there are many
tennisdoc56
128 posts
 
My stereo experience began during the watt wars in the late 70’s and early 80s.  30 to 50 watts with horn midrange and 12 inch woofers made wood filling sound and no damage to speakers during peaks.  Watts became cheaper d speaker designers were free to experiment with smaller woofers and inefficient crossovers.  I had an power meter from realistic and measure the output from from a 100 wpc nakamichi stasis amplifier into my Polk sda 2 speakers.  The meter had a high and low setting 0 to 1 watt and 1 to 100. Even in a large living room most of the listening was under 1 watt and momentarily reached 5 during peak symphony or rock drum/bass combinations. 
henry53's avatar
henry53
280 posts
 
I use a Vincent Audio pre power SA 31 MK / SP 331 MK, first 10 watts are Class A. Calculations imply that would be 99% plus of my listening time. 
larryro2
137 posts
 
Why are you not using Class D?
More to discover