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The first watts

Okay, let's see if I can ask this question correctly. If you have an class A/B amp and the first 10 Watts is class A and after that it's all class B what happens if you have an inefficient speaker, do the first 10 W get used up real quick so that you're almost never hearing class A amplification, or does it work differently than that?
last_lemming
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,212 posts
 
Unless you listen at very loud levels, say 85dB or higher, your amp will operate in class A most of the time.
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
You are on the right track. Normally and amplifier will be called A/AB, where it will operate in Class A up to about 5-15 wpc then slide into Class AB. The Class A watts will be the first watts used, so they will go first. Power works on a logarithmic scale, meaning that 100 wpc will sound twice as loud as 10 wpc (+3dB).

So if you have inefficient speakers, that are soaking up 100-200+ watts, you will basically be listening in Class AB. Now with average speakers, at normal levels, you may be listening in Class A, and never switch over to AB. Very few amps operate in pure Class A up to 200 wpc, and they are very expensive.
czarivey
5,946 posts
 
Onhwy61:
Unless you listen at very loud levels, say 85dB or higher, your amp will operate in class A most of the time.

It's partially right. The other part totally depends on speaker. The current demand can be even at lower volume levels especially at crossover points and lower frequencies.
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