Class A/B Home THeater Receivers

I’ve been using a class D amp to drive large floorstanders loudly for 3 years with nary a hiccup. I’m actually looking to upgrade to monoblocks.. Class D of course.

Sure they can break, but so can class A and A/B. I’ve also never heard of higher rates of failure for class D as a whole. But maybe it was one particular receiver that had these problems..? Not all class D. Just throwing that out there.

toddverone,

Good points about all types of amps can break and that Bruce may have been reading about a particular AVR model that had repeated issues.

I’ve been running 3 class D amps (a pair of mono-blocks and 2 stereo) left on 24/7, and often played at high volumes, for a couple years now without any problems. They don’t even get any warmer than luke-warm no matter how hard they’re driven.

There seems to be a lot of anti-class D bias being spread along with some false information. My theory is that class A/B amp makers, sellers and biased fans may be the impetus behind this.

I believe Class A/B amp makers and sellers justifiably feel threatened. Class D already clearly equals or betters class A/B in every audio performance criteria along with every other criteria that is important to amp buyers such as price, size, weight, reliability, operating temperature and efficiency. I honestly cannot think of a single advantage that A/B has compared to class D.
In my opinion, class A/B amps have managed to remain viable longer than they merit for a few reasons:

1. Class D amps are mainly sold internet-direct with free or low cost in-home trial periods. Many potential customers are either unaware of this or reluctant to shop or buy via this method. This is slowly changing as more class A/B amp makers, concerned with their company’s future, are offering class D amps of their own that are sold through traditional stores.

2. Some, such as the OP Bruce, either have a bias against class D or mistook anti-class D info as truthful and decided to not even consider class D.

3. Not all amp buyers, being less knowledgeable than those active on audio blogs, even know of the existence of class D and its extraordinary attributes. The awareness of class D by this group is likely to only grow since there are so many ways (friends and family, chance reading or listening) to become aware that only increase over time.

As if the above wasn’t enough bad news for class A/B amp makers and sellers, they realize that their technology has peaked while class D technology is likely to continue to improve and only widen the performance gap.
It may be hard to believe, given my admittedly pro-class D bias described ad nauseam above, but I have no financial interest in the manufacturing or selling of class D amps. I’m just a big fan based on research, the facts and my experiences switching from all class A/B amps to all class D amps over the past few years.

I could go on but I’m going to bed,
Tim

David Campbell,


     It's been over a week since I asked you on 1/22/17 a few questions on your thoughts on class A/B and D amps.  You have not responded to any of my 5 questions.
      I'm assuming  your work responsibilities are keeping you too busy to respond.  I understand work duties are of primary importance.  Therefore, I've reduced my 5 questions to a single one I hope you'll respond to:

Can you name any important performance measure or quality that could be in any way accurately described as a cost, ’negative’ or sacrifice of switching from class A/B to class D amplification?

Thanks
  Tim 

" Can you name any important performance measure or quality that could be in any way accurately described as a cost, ’negative’ or sacrifice of switching from class A/B to class D amplification?"

     C'mon!  The silence is deafening.

     There is ABSOLUTELY NOBODY who can name A SINGLE, AS IN  ONE,  performance measure or quality in which class A/B outperforms class D?

     Well, I guess that means there is absolutely no reason that anyone should even consider continuing to use or consider buying any product that utilizes class A/B amplification.

     Don't feel bad, I can't think of a single benefit of class A/B either.  When I replaced my amps from all A/B to all D, I thought that there might be some performance area or quality that would suffer.  But that was 2 years ago and I still cannot name a single   performance measure or quality that could be in any way accurately described as a cost, ’negative’ or sacrifice of switching from class A/B to class D amplification, either. 

    Case closed, right? 

     To be fair, let's see if ANYONE can think of ANYTHING, just ONE performance criteria or quality that class A/B betters class D in the next week.  If there is no response in a week then I think it's safe to perform a eulogy for class A/B.

Tim     

This post is directed to Tim.  Tim, I do not appreciate the way you've hijacked my posting.  Your never-ending posts are condescending, rude, and quite frankly, boring.  Please leave my post alone and start your own.  I asked what I thought was a simple question, and got many helpful replies... Somehow, you've become obsessed with trolling my post, and I would like it to stop. Do what you have to do to make yourself happy, but don't presume to know what's best for everyone else who posts on this forum. so... have a nice day... and please go away...