Krell anticipator circuits of the 1990s

@jaytor ​​@imhififan      Well, if you read my first post you will have seen I do not believe the claims made.  I decided that in the 90s when the FPB amps were introduced.  I examined the proposition and discussed it with a Krell service engineer.  I do not believe the current of the signal can be determined and the bias changed before that signal is amplified.  I am not an EE but I have read the patent and it says nothing of the quantum of this time delay.  If this is not known then the system's suitability for audio use cannot be approved.

Amplifiers have very many functionalities apart from audio and Classes B thru H have their valid uses where their differing topologies suit the required functionality.  But for audio amplification none can deliver the sound quality of Class A.

"it sounds like you have already decided that Krell's plateau bias technology is just marketing BS. I read through the patent in detail and, as an EE, I do think it's a clever approach and not just hype."

Then as an EE you also recognize each effort to modulate the power supply models as a non-linear s-curve - a hysteresis loop with rose and fall times that must be less than any changes in the input signal. 

 

 

 

@clearthinker there is something  to  be said about owning  your amps for many years. First off you know them very well. Secondly  you  are off the rat race to continually  buy and sell. In my opinion  it takes a bunch of time  to get a system  at its peak. That is not in a month or two. That takes a few years. You can get them fairly close in a few months  but top performance  takes time and effort and listening.  As you eluded  to before many times the biggest effort  is put into early products.  When the person who formed the company  was in control and had the passion  for what he was making long before the bean counters  were there.  As far as time goes most everyone who plays with stereo  equipment  at this level works very hard in what ever they do. Most blue collar people think that the wealthy  are lazy that is far from the truth more like some of the hardest working  people out there. So that also brings up a couple of points spare time is limited  so what does a person  get there happiness  from in audio,  listening  to music  or discovering  each new piece that comes out?  None of those things are bad but a person  wants to get enjoyment  out of the hobby and that in a nut shell  is what the goal is. I always maintain  that what a person is doing is trying  to paint a picture with your hifi system.  There is no right artist just different  styles just because  a person's taste is a monet  doesn't  mean a DaVinci  is bad. I love hearing  other people s choices  as it is a view into that person's soul it shows in ways that people rarely show you. What makes me enjoy this thread is the passion  that many people are showing that is one thing that is wonderful  about this quest is it brings out passion.  

@retiredfarmer     Thanks for your understanding and kind words.  I agree with all you say.

I do take Stereophile (not AS as I have been a John Atkinson fan for the whole of his journalistic career) and am keen to keep up with all the new products.  But like with my cars I don't change equipment very often and very rarely sell anything.  Now approaching my mid-70s I am increasingly finding new products, especially cars, are not to my liking and that I get more pleasure and satisfaction with the older stuff I already have.

Neither am I much of a tweaker.  I use stock mains cable and have had my heavy Kimber speaker cables 20+ years and all Kimber silver interconnects for longer than that.  I am sure someone will tell me they oxidised years ago but the music still sounds great to me.

Perhaps one should not generalise about blue collar people, but one thing most of them do not do is love their work; maybe it's not that kind of work.  I loved my work and got as much out of it is from my down time.  Spending most of the time working it is crucial that it is found enjoyable.

Yes I love Da Vinci and Monet but also Dali, although I can't do the really modern stuff.

If anyone is interested. I re-read the thread I posted earlier about 

WestminsterLab

They also have an iBias system similar to the KRELL XD. The designer of those amps explained how the iBias predicts the needed power. His amps go into Class AB for a second if they go beyond the existing limit of Class A. Then the Class A ramps up.