equating class A to class AB SS amps?

Just an after thought, AB also runs a lot cooler than class A amps.

In general, I love tube amps. I know this is a generalisation, but the solid state amps I have found listenable to, were nearly all Class A, the Aleph 3 being the best. I would love to hear the new integrated based on the XA30, I expect that will be quite special.
Otherwise, I found an edge, lack of musicality, harshness, call it what you will, to class A/B, SS amps. The only exception was the Lavardin IT, which was very nice indeed.

Mark
Are you buying new?Who carries Luxman in Toronto?I got a ML 27.5 and yes it's class AB but boy does this amp ever sing!
Regards
George

Yes, I plan to buy new. My Kind of Music, near Heath & Spadina in Toronto is a real treasure trove...
http://www.mykindofmusic.com/index2.htm

John carries Luxman and Verity Audio, along with many other lines.

Regards,

Mark

An AB amp that is class A to X watts is not equivalent to a class A amp, bear in mind - the distortion spectra are different even within the class A range (and that is largely what defines the sound of an amp). Nelson Pass has an excellent article explaining this on his FirstWatt site.

Furthermore, only a full class A amp can be single-ended as well (as the Pass Alephs are) - that change in topology seems to make an even bigger difference to the sound.

There sure are some great-sounding class AB (SE and PP) amps these days, tho!