Are There Any Inherent Advantages to Class A amps?

As others have stated - the Krell FPB "Class A" series are
Classe A up to their rated output.

A Class A amp can't switch to Class A/B - it doesn't have
the second "mirror-image" amplifier chain to handle the
opposite polarity. An amp that is Class A only has a single
chain - and it is biased so that it conducts during 100% of
the cycle - both positive and negative.

The Krell KAV series amps are Class A/B.

The advantage of a Class A amp is that there is no
"crossing distortion"; inherently. The amp does not
shuffle the load back and forth between an amp chain that
handles the positive half of the cycle and an amp chain
that handles the negative half.

In a Class A amp, a single amp chain handles 100% of the
cycle - so there's no distortion due to the "hand-off" to
the other chain - because there is no "hand-off".

Additionally, the latest offerings from Krell - the
"x-series" [ because the model number ends in "x" -
e.g. FPB-400cx] are somewhat of a departure from the
earlier Krell amps. They have gone away from the typical
"Krell sound" and lean toward a sweeter, more musical
presentation.

Dr. Gregory Greenman
Physicist

Dear Mitch: It can drive low impedances with out any problem and their bass reproduction is stuning.
Like I told you, you can get four of these exellent amplifiers for bi-amp. I agree with you that the best way to do the bi-amp is with the same model of amplifiers.
Regards and enjoy the music.
Raul.

bryston 6b and 7b appear to be decent values used for 500 watt monoblocks and most with years of warranty left....they can be wired up in parallel for different speaker types, too...2000 or a bit more for a pr

"A Class A amp can't switch to Class A/B--it doesn't have
the second "mirror-image" amplifier chain to handle the
opposite polarity. An amp that is Class A only has a single
chain--and it is biased so that it conducts during 100% of
the cycle--both positive and negative."

Morbius, that's not correct. You're confusing 'single-ended' with 'class a'. The first is a circuit-design principle wherein one output device does indeed handle both swings of the alternating-current signal. The 2nd deals with how much bias current is pushed continously thru the output device(s). Every solidstate class-A amp I know of (and that's not many) is push/pull and NOT single-ended.

These are 2 different design considerations.

Jeffreybehr,

You are incorrect my friend, a single ended amp is just a Class A amp with a single (as opposed to multiple) devices in the output stage per channel. Class A amps BY DEFINITION amplify through 360 of the duty cycle. Class A amps ARE NOT push pull!!!

From http://sound.westhost.com/class-a.htm

Class-A Output device(s) conduct through 360 degrees of input cycle (never switch off) - A single output device is possible. The device conducts for the entire waveform in Figure 1
Class-B Output devices conduct for 180 degrees (1/2 of input cycle) - for audio, two output devices in "push-pull" must be used (see Class-AB)
Class-AB Halfway (or partway) between the above two examples (181 to 200 degrees typical) - also requires push-pull operation for audio. The conduction for each output device is shown in Figure 1.
Class-C Output device(s) conduct for less than 180 degrees (100 to 150 degrees typical) - Radio Frequencies only - cannot be used for audio! ** This is the sound heard when one of the output devices goes open circuit in an audio amp! See Figure 1, showing the time the output device conducts (single-ended operation is assumed, and yes this does work for RF)
Class-D Quasi-digital amplification. Uses pulse-width-modulation of a high frequency (square wave) carrier to reproduce the audio signal - because of frequency limitations (and the fact that they nearly all seem to sound disgusting), many are only suitable for industrial control of motors and loud but crappy sub-woofers (this may change if transistors with an infinite bandwidth become available soon - yeah, right!) All Class-D amps have a major limitation in the output filter, whose response is highly dependent on the load impedance.