Pure class A amplifiers = "slow" amplifiers?

In my opinion dynamic range is more loudspeaker related than amplifier. For if you rely on massive power to get dynamics you are forcing your loudspeakers to perform, requiring massive cone excursions and much heat to crossover parts and voice coils all detrimental to sound quality and loudspeaker life span. I find loudspeakers that are efficent and need little power to provide far far better dynamic range and speed than conventional loudspeakers that need huge power just to sqeak out limited SPL. Since the driver cones are hardly moving in hi-eff designs they reveal hidden details that are lost to massive excurtion designs. Plus hi-eff are at ease at almost all SPL levels since these designs are never forced or pushed they dont heat up as much or sound fatiging like convetional designs do at HI-SPL. Once you hear proper replicated dynamic range conventional loudspeakers with massive power sound slow and compressed. CLass A is not the cause at all its the loudspeakers.

Johnk...Although Maggies aren't high efficiency speakers, they do have very small diaphragm excursion, and I believe this may be a lot of the reason they sound good. When I designed a cone driver subwoofer system to go with my Maggies a prime criteria was minimal cone excursion. What happens to the typical subwoofer cone is obscene!! I ended up with three subwoofer systems, for my three front channels, each including a 15" driver and a 12" driver. I get very strong bass with quite modest cone excursion.

I spent over a decade with dipoles most models including maggies. For me HI-EFF been the better sound. Now with HI-EFF ribbons about this frees up design. I have a few med to hi-eff hybrid ribbon loudspeakers about. Gives the best of both worlds. No need for HI-Eff to be all horn but still my mains for now are giant 3 way front horns. Ive built a few bass systems for Maggie, ML, SL, Quad owners and the fostex 31.5in is the best I heard matched to 20.1 3.6 and other electrostatics.31.5 can be used in OB so dipole bass. But very large and costly...No free lunch. I have also used 31.5 with oris 250 fostex f200a a few dif ribbons and comp tweeters set up as OB even mid horn is dipole but -6db down over front and to me;) a good step up from the maggies and other electrostatics Ive owned mess about with for customers. I do hear why folks enjoy the maggie sound you can build good systems arround them. As with all things YMMV,and we all dont have the same tastes.

Johnk...Fostex 31.5 = cone area!
Also, Fostex 31.5 = $2535.75
as of April 07. Probably more now.

At least you didnt look at the fostex w400a hr price. Iam working out a design using these with a ribbon;) in a 2 way......