My (limited) understanding is that class B designates a push/pull configuration with each device (tube, transistor) handling one half cycle. During the transition between devices there is distortion. Class A is always on, drawing the same amount of power regardless of the input signal. Biasing the devices for class A/B helps reduce the transition distortion because there is no longer an abrupt transition between devices. Both devices operate in the transitional region which varies widely between designs.
Class A into Class AB
What is the goal of a designer who makes intergrated amps that have class A for x amount of watts before it goes into class AB? Are there any examples of this being implemented well? I get this feeling that it’s kind of just a marketing thing...where people think they are getting some quality class A without the very high price tag. I was particularly looking at the CODA CSiB amps where you have three choices of how much of your first watts are class A. I have since found a few other respectable brands that implement this as well. I have yet to come across anyone who has heard much of difference between AB amps and one’s that’s state "first X amount of watts..." Class A/AB. Anyone have any experience with these kind of integrated amplifiers? Just looking for a little bit of understanding as I’m trying to upgrade my amplifier.
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tom68971,405 posts10-09-2021 1:14amTo me the first few watts of class A are the most important. That is where 85%+ of your listening will exist ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ La Creame de la creame. Great Britain calls it Double Cream* When fresh cows milk settles, the top layer of the cream layer. = Double cream. With 92 db sens wide band, only 5% of the Defy's 100 watts are needeed. Class A, class A/B is not important. At 5% , Class is irrelevant. I listen at very moderate SPL levels, maybe 75 db tops. Even though low SPL and very near field, I still want higher sens speakers. Doing it all over again, I would have a much smaller amplifier. with exact same results. IMHO 40 true watts,,make that ~~30~~~ true watts is really more than enough power. |
What is the goal of a designer who makes intergrated amps that have class A for x amount of watts before it goes into class AB? to provide a balance between purity of sound for most of the listening experience, versus heat, cost (of the unit and energy use), volume headroom, weight/size of the unit Are there any examples of this being implemented well? yes there are many |
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