Ditching Class A Amps due to Heat - Sort of a Poll


A discussion elsewhere about the future of Class A made me wonder how true one statement really is. So the questions are...

Have you done away with your Class A Amp due to Heat concerns?

Will you be moving away from Class A Amp due to Heat concerns?

Will you never buy a Class A Amp due to Heat concerns?

I only have a class A/B unit that does Class A up to 6 watts with almost no heat so really can't speak for those who have used in the past or currently own and run Class A Amps.

brianh61

The KRELL XD lineup does not get hot, about the same heat as the Benchmark AHB2. The KRELL is Class A using an iBias method to keep temps low. The AHB2 sounds like a Class A amp too (better to some ears).

we have tested many class d amplifiers in our store hypex ncore and

gain and a few others none sounded as good as class a/b amplifiers

 

the first class d amplifier that really was exceptional and truly musical is the Avik amps they are built with novel noise reduction technology and their u180 integratedis shockingly good as both an amplifier and dac the amp is musical and engaging

 

so far the t+amplifiersclass a/b are still our favoritesthe avik in our second show room is becomming anew favorite for a more affordable integratedamp/dac combo

I own a pair of Pass XA60.8s which have an idle power dissipation of 400W each. I don't think I'd consider buying an amp that use more power than this at idle. 

My Pass amps have not been in my system for more than nine months since I've been using a pair of 300B PSET amps. These have plenty of power for my system and I like the sound a bit better (although the XA60.8s are very nice). My 300B amps are also class A, but have an idle power dissipation about half of the Pass amps. 

I do have a Purifi class D amp that I use in my bedroom system and it's nice to have extremely low idle power dissipation so that I can just leave the amp on all the time. But, as good as it is, it lags behind my Pass and 300B amps. 

Class A for me.  Two First Watt amps,and a pair of Monarchy Audio mono blocks.  Listening to well reproduced music brings me joy. I like what I like. Oh ya, they run hot. I still love them.  

I have two Class A amps (modded Plinius SA103 and Reference Line Silver Sig) and love ‘em both. But I’m open to this new GaN-FET stuff. A friend is bringing over a Peachtree and the Atma monos in 10 days for a head-to-head against my amps. Should be interesting!