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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
dob
577 posts
 
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
metralla
945 posts
 
Stevecham writes:

Slowness is a function of the source.
Not completely.

Regards,
mechans
3,048 posts
 
Band width and slew rate are not a function of eachother only potentially limited by one or the other parameter. In any event the slew rate is ridiculously quick, some other elements must account for percieved slowness. I don't percieve it in my class A tube amp at all. I think it is not physics but pycho acoustics with cues telling some listeners the sound is rich dense, or heavy and therefore slower.
gs5556
1,237 posts
 
If you're just telling us that you don't prefer the 'Class A' sound, that's understandable. Class A is not the only way to good sound or else it would be the only type of amplifier people would buy. Just because you prefer one over he other doesn't mean you're missing the bus or it's a design issue - there are plenty of A/AB's out there that outperform single-ended Class A. But then again, substituting a better amplifier shows up downstream equipment. Maybe it's the preamplifier slowing things down.
dave_b's avatar
dave_b
3,159 posts
 
What are your speakers?? Pre?? Source???
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