Pure class A amplifiers = "slow" amplifiers?


Hi folks, I know this is subject of controversy. In general pure class A has been regarded as the best way in solid state amplification to get the purest sound. In my experience many pure class A solid state amplifiers (Accuphase, Pass Labs, Plinius) sound "slow" and are lacking "dynamics". Do they sound that way because they have less distortion than class A/B amplifiers, I mean sometimes a signal is so pure that one is increasing the volume adjustment knob to get a louder sound. With a very pure sound it seems like music goes slower too (= psychoacoustic phenomenon).

Chris
dazzdax
it's too easy to generalize. i am auditioning a class a amp with my magnepan 1.6s. i would not use the word "slow" to describe what i hear. my "reference" amplifier(s) is the vtl deluxe 120.

while an amplifier may have a peak in the bass, it may also be extended in the treble. depnednding upon the frequency response, such a situation may be described as "boom and sizzle".

the combination of attenuated treble response combined with an over emphasis in the region 80 to say 150 hz is rare in a class a amp, in my opinion.
In the Black and Blue books of the the great German or was Austrian Oh that's right Vienese Philosoper Wittengstein explained at length . The only thing which anything tells you of itself, is limited to what it can tell you. Further you can't whistle about it either. In plain old Austrian if the thing called Class A amplification tells you it sounds slow -it does indeed sound slow. Logic will tell you that if A does not depends on how it's circuit. then you can count on A always being A. His obversations being limited to the fin de Ciecle or Saichel, when there was no abundance of anything, especially class A, so could he know? We are left to ponder.
Finally if it sounds slow is that so terrible?
If you want to know if the amp in question is slow of fast - just look its bandwidth. Wide bandwidth is a property of the fast amp ( If I am not mistaken: BW = 1/Slew Rate) and vice versa.

All The Best
Rafael
Stevecham writes:

Slowness is a function of the source.
Not completely.

Regards,