chryslers_rule - You don't want the government in your stereo, do you? Class A amps run the output transistors ALL the time. This allows purity of signal. The disadvantage is the transistor that is left on all the time runs very hot. This means you have to have BIG heat sinks and can't run as much current through the transistor. Class AB amps use a pair of output transistors running in tandem. A turns on, B turns off. B turns on, A turns off. The advantage is you can cool off B while A is running, so you can run B at higher levels while it is on. You don't need the huge metal cooling fins (heat sinks). This means more watts at a cheaper price. The disadvantage is the switching distortion incurred flipping back and forth. As computer technology became cheap and plentiful this has become much less of a problem, because the switching is more precise. Ask morbius for a second opinion. And tell him to WATCH OUT FOR THE ID!
