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Living room system: class A or AB amps?

Would class A be suitable for a living room system? Apart from hi-fi listening sessions, it's also used a lot for watching TV.

Would it make more sense to get good class AB amplifiers, which can be switched on permanently without drawing huge amounts of power? I wouldn't want to warm-up an amp first before getting good sound.

For this system, I have so far only purchased the speakers: Focal Stella Utopia Evo. Room is big: 1,200 square feet with openings to hallways.

I'd consider to pair them with Gryphon Mephisto and Pandora. But that's class A...

Opinions and amp suggestions are welcome!

robert1976
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Class A is suitable unless its a more formal living room in which case go with Class`e. Dining room systems are of course Class D and bathrooms don't rate a class but most people take the Schiit. Some say the point is sound not topology but these people have no class.
robert1976 OP
75 posts
 
@millercarbon
With your depth of experience and knowledge I was hoping for something more substantial. A class-y response that would actually help me :)

I wish I could ignore the practicality factor, but it’s a living room.

For class AB I'm thinking two Luxman M-900u's in mono.
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,201 posts
 
You will still get good sound from a cold class A design, it will just sound even better once warmed.  That's true, to a lesser extent, with class A/B amps.  Some amp manufacturers tout how their amps run class A up to certain wattage before switching to class A/B operation.  One of those amps could be a good compromise for your situation.
testpilot
918 posts
 
Just get the amp that sounds the best with your speakers.  The only limiting factor would be if you needed to hide the amp in an enclosure.
robert1976 OP
75 posts
 
Just get the amp that sounds the best with your speakers.  The only limiting factor would be if you needed to hide the amp in an enclosure.
You'd have no problems running class A amps at hundreds of watts day and night in the living room?

Unfortunately no dealers out there with Focal Stella Evo's on demo with several different amplifiers to audition.
Let alone my considerations: Gryphon Mephisto, Luxman M-900u mono, and D'Agostino Progression mono.

P.S. I may want to have some enclosure around the amps, but easy enough to add some active ventilation with quiet fans.
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