Should I buy a Class A Amp.

Don't count out the Luxman Class A amps new ones and some of the older ones. I run an L560 50wc pure class A from 1986 (updated version of the L550/540)and its rather nice for a 20 year old amp. utilizes a heat pipe i.e. liquid cooled, idling current is set at 160mV for each channel so it runs very hot and pure class A all the way.  Replaced some AudioNote gear and not looking back. I've also heard the New versions the 25wc and the 35wc and they are very nice (I liked them better then the new pass stuff) Little expensive but worth a look if you can find a used one and build like tanks.
I'm driving some Living Voice Avatar 2's with really good results
http://www.thevintageknob.org/luxman-L-560.html

There are lots of different class A circuit designs, but you can't go wrong with FirstWatt amps by Nelson Pass, if you have fairly efficient speakers. Reno HiFi will let you try before you buy too so you can hear it in your system. My F7 runs really hot, especially this summer on the east coast! But it is worth it, drives my 88db speakers very well and has a lot of the holographic qualities associated with tubes. Enjoy!
Ron

Could it be said that Class A amps, like Pass for example, play better on certain types of music? Better classical than rock, for instance?



No.  Class A circuits simply have less distortion due primarily to the fact that there is zero cross-over distortion that is found in A/B amplifiers.  A less distorted signal should sound better for all music types, unless you prefer that sort of thing - which many do in the tube world.

There is no right answer, but from a physics/electical engineering standpoint a Class-A amplifier is a "better" design when it comes to distortion.

Buy the new Rotel 1592 ,

Hi Don

I have owed a couple of KSA 200's and would have to admit I think the sound is great, but I have a slightly strange setup/situation a large room high ceiling thick stone walls and not very efficient loudspeakers (Linn Isobarik - passive)
The problem with these amps is they are now getting on a bit, if you can find one in good useable condition it is likely to be expensive. I agree with some of the other views expressed that the ones worth having were the KSA series, if you have to go through a recapping procedure as I tried to, I found it difficult to find someone to supply the correct grade of capacitors and the cost of them alone was going to be over £1500.00 here in the UK plus labour and possibly other parts being required as well.
I rather reluctantly at first replaced it with a Mark Levinson No. 532 Amp, this is not class A but I have been very pleased with it indeed.
For me it does all that the Krell did and a lot more and has the added advantage that you are not generating the same amount of heat either, I was told that my KSA200 was sucking 2.2Kw of power when just turned on!
The Levinson runs much much cooler I personally find the sound at least if not more powerful that the Krell but with even more detail, I just can't recommend it highly enough.
If you want real grunt with great detail and a fine sound it's the way to go in my book!

Matthew Lewis