What's better 100w class a or 200w class ab?

I've always preferred the approach of
1) listen
2) try to use the theory to explain the differences

rather than the other way around. If you do it in the other order then it's too easy to overlook something that might render your theory inapplicable in this particular situation (unless you're really a very good audio engineer, with detailed knowledge of the makeup of EVERY component).

Plus at the end of the day you have to listen to the thing !

Thanks all for the interesting thread, though. Since I studied basic transistor amp design in college and built a few it's always nice to read some more discussions on the subject.

Thanks for the lesson in physics Bear. You did a wonderful job on that one : ) Besides that, i can see why you are called "Bear". You must be big as a grizzly to tote amps like that around. Those things had better have some hellaciously well made and anchored rack handles is all that i can say. : )

Ozfly: I would say that somewhere around 45 - 60 volts would be about average for most amps. Some may go marginally higher than that. When you start getting up around 80 - 90 volts or so, i would consider that a high rail voltage. Some of the newer switching type amps actually go up quite a bit higher than that from what i've read. Sean
>

Bear, I like the reality check. But Musical Fidelity rates it 72 amps "peak-to-peak output current". Is this some trick to make things sound better than they really are? Like NADs "dynamic power"?
Sure sounds a lot more impressive than their 3.2 integrated's measly 24 amps "peak to peak".