Thiel Owners

@jafant You might be interested to read the new AX-5 Twenty review in Hifi News
https://www.hifinews.com/content/ayre-ax-5-twenty-integrated-amplifier

On the bench, it produced 650 W into a 1 load under “dynamic conditions” (I think this similar to the tonebursts that Stereophile did for an interval, more music like than steady state test signals; not specified whether that was for one or two channels driven). Eye-popping how much more powerful the Twenty is compared to the original even though Ayre did not change the spec. Pretty well confirms what my ears hear paired with the CS2.4.

I’m paying off the aq type 9

@unsound  

^Does the Class A drop, maintain or increase as impedance load is lowered?

Response from CODA

It drops. This is the nature of the calculation and is true for every amplifier.

CODA

So are there amps that maintain the Class A on lowered impedance?

usaltus

In making my speaker cables I used Kimber Kable spades .
If you are thinking of using spades they are easy to connect to the cable and don't have to be tightened with a wrench at the binding posts .

@xyzsantabarbara, As I understand it; yes. I believe many of the Krell’s do, that the Mark Levinson ML 2’s did, some of the Pass Labs might (limited to 4 Ohms maybe?)? I wouldn’t swear on it though. I’ll hazard a guess that the Class A output is halved as the output doubles as impedance is halved. Though most times one cruises along at low power output, that output increases rather dramatically exponentially. You’ll have to decide how relevant the Class A output in your circumstances. Keep in mind that available higher total output can potentially protect drivers from under powered clipping damage, and the ear tends to be less sensitive to the cross-over distortions of Class AB at higher volume levels.
These are the areas that separates typically have advantages over their integrated brethren; the ability to double down and and the ability to stay in Class A output longer when doing so.