Should I buy a Class A Amp.


I would Love to buy a Class A Amp. I have a Sony Tan-80ES Amp right now and I have had it for 19 yrs. To me it sounds Great but I am curious about Class A Amps. Do they really sound better? I am looking at a Krell KSA 200 Amp right now for $2000.00. It is older then my Sony. Is this too much for such an old Amp? Would Love to hear members thoughts on this.  

Blessings, ..........Don.
donplatt
bpoletti,

No need for sarcasm...We’re all friends here. If you do not understand the post please read it in its entirety again.

I apologize if I’ve confused you. It reads:
"assuming" (again assuming), the electrical circuit in the wall can support these extraordinary power levels, a "continuous" 2ohm test of the no.336 at maximum power would require 50 amperes at 120v."

That is why Levinson chose to design the the 300 series amplifiers "VOLTAGE GAIN STAGES" into Class A and not in the traditional "HIGH CURRENT OUTPUT" fashion.

Additionally, my data is largly derived directly from Mark Levinson documentation.

Best regards
N




inna2,069 posts07-19-2016 11:09amGeorge, thank you.
Would you some people mind writing in normal English?

Sorry inna, that was more for the techs here, who want to know why I’m in favour of well designed Class A amps

BTW: I noticed my link to the Mark Levinson ML2  25w Class A mono block beasts didn’t take here it is.
http://www.highendclassics.com/brands/marklevinsonml2-2

Cheers George
nutty

Not sure where you're getting the 1400watt output number.  ML's specs indicate 2 ohm output to 500wpc. 

Please post the source for the specs you claim. 


bpoletti,

I'm getting my specs from my manual. My system with the no. 334 is 125w 8ohm, 250w 4ohm, 500w 2ohm.
The no. 336 referenced in the post is rated 1400w 2ohm. 

N


The 300 series ML’s are high biased class A/B, B after the bias runs out, they are not pure Class A.
Looking at the heatsinks I say about 20-30w Class A bias max, as Stereophile also said they weren’t too hot to touch, even after 1 hour pre-conditioning at 1/3rd power.
If they were pure Class A they’d be the size of a very large coffee table with heatsinks big enough to warm the whole neighborhood.

Stereophile full power tests on the No.334 are at 1% THD!!!.
8ohm = 139.9w
4ohm = 243w
2ohm = 430w

Bottom of the page measurement chart
http://www.stereophile.com/content/mark-levinson-no334-power-amplifier-measurements-page-3#toJJo0Xxp6m0aqe4.97

Cheers George