Higher-End Class A/B vs. Class A Integrateds

Rather than focus on pure class A, you might want to look at A/B amps that are are biased to deliver more class A wattage before switching to A/B operation. Some vendors publish these numbers, others do not. Coda is one example. If you don’t play your music loud, or have sensitive speakers, you may not need a lot.  More important however is how the amp sounds to you and how well it plays with your speakers. 

You might consider a used Krell K300i integrated.   The first watts are Class A then the rest are class A/B.   I don’t recall the actual cutover, but it’s pretty high.   I own one and love it.   Smooth, warm (not bloomy), extended highs, and massive controlled bass.   I’m very satisfied with mine.   Used you can find them for about $5k.

Happy hunting!

@noodlyarm,

I once owned a Krell KSA Pre w/phono.  It was a great pre and one piece of equipment I wish I never parted with.

The K300i sounds very intriguing.  The only thing that turns me off is the fact that it has no volume knob.  That could be something I could get used to.

@zlone,

That's why I've been questioning the whole Class A thing vs. Class AB.  I had noticed integrated amps at close to $10,000 that were Class AB.  I thought, once you got into that price range they would surly be pure Class A.  

I found out that that's not the case and that there are obviously very rich sounding class AB out there to consider.

@boxcarman 

Right! I see a lot of the Hegel's up for sale some around that price or lower and listeners seem to love the Hegel sound.