The "charactor" of pure Class A?

For some, Class A is an article of faith, for others just a myth.

Given the inconvenience of high heat and the added expense of building Class A, it's an awfully high maintenance myth, if it is one.

Cdc, just for the record, anytime you are 'mixing' class A with B, its called A/B. IOW that's the definition.

Also, Class A amplifiers are the best at rock- Class A should be the best at everything, FWIW. If Stereophile said otherwise it is only because they are completely dead wrong.

This is not to say that 'all class A amps sound better than all class A/B amps' or whatever, since there are so many design variables that exist. But class A, as a class of operation, is the best for all types of music.

Well, getting back to the question Ralph. I think Mr. Carsten is entirely correct . True class A amps have muscle if you can imagine that, Yes they great for Rock you must have read that wrong.
The signature is a tad of warmth Atmasphere amps aside, and are willing to play the bottom octave if need be they to. The amp will truly double their output
This happens whenever a split in resistance occurs let's say Clayton says it will generate 100wpc at 8 OHMs that's what they mean for a linear lab generated 8 ohm resistance. When in true life they double their out put to 200WPC at 4 ohms and so on, for every drop in resistance, if the amp is built to work at 1 ohm, like Krell.
That finally before burning the to amp to pieces at 1 ohm the amp generates an incredible 800Wpc.

Authority yes and finesse and sweetness, when called for. The early ML-20 monos had it 40 years ago and how wonderful they sounded on the Quads or later the Servo Statics. Anyone remember?
And Ralphs own now on my Sound Labs, which is a difficult load for the MA-2 Mk. III's 220 watts but it easily betters the Siegfrieds in triode mode at about 400 watts and only in pentode mode at 700 those beasts equal the "authority" of Ralph's OTLs and considerably more cost. Just go figure.

Thanks Atmasphere. Wish I could remember where I saw that article.