Class A into Class AB

I find the Class A amps that I have owned smoother sounding than AB amp that I have owned. The CODA CSiB is a good integrated amp. I had Version 1 with the most Class A watts. I still own the KRELL K-300i integrated which does not put out a lot of heat and has the first 90 watts in Class A. I liked it more than the CODA CSB so Is sold the CSiB and kept the KRELL.

I also have the CDDA 07x and CODA #8 (Version 1). I like that combo more than the CSiB. Last week I heard the CODA #16 with the CODA 07x and it was easily better sounding than my #8. The #16 has the first 100 watts in Class A. It sounded smoother than the #8 and with more clarity. The CODA #16 was not that hot. Maybe I needed to play it for a few hours at loud volumes?

I have also had 3 Class D amps recently. Which were enjoyable but sold mainly because I liked the CODA gear a bit more.

@larry5729 

maybe arcam has made some sweet sounding amps in their history, but after owning 3-4 arcams over the years, for various purposes, i have yet to experience one

The Luxman L-509X is biased to be pure Class A for the first 6 watts.

I've got mine paired to Audio Note AN-K SPx/SE at 90db efficiency.

I do practically all of my listening in Class A - if you believe those seductive dancing meters :-)

I do practically all of my listening in Class A - if you believe those seductive dancing meters :-)

I believe you and the others, including myself, that in an RMS sense… it is mostly Class-A.

Just the crest factor of a lot of music can be ~13dB. So that often jumps the peaks up to Class-AB.
Maybe at 60-65dB it is under/within Class-A.
But at 75-80dB those peaks will be above the meager level where the bias disappears it being qualified as “Class-A like” operation...”
And it has historically been in the louder sections of music where I have heard the grainy’ness, so maybe that was cross over distortion from Class-AB?

Pure Class A if you please...