Pass Labs A/B amps vs Class A amp and Actual Power

Is the "Class A" in an amp that switches to A/B at some point the same as pure Class A?

Brian, good question. There have been discussions here as to whether there is in fact such a thing as Class A/AB or for that matter even Class AB. Some here claim that there is either only Class A or Class B, but not combinations there in. It might be just that some amplifiers have part of their out-put having attributes of Class A. I don't have any where near the technical expertise to determine what is what. I will say that more often than not, those amplifiers that claim to have more Class A output, do sound better to me.

Unsound, the Stereophile review is archived on the Pass website. I think the new website was down this AM, but I found it on the old page. Perhaps your question is more technical than my knowledge goes. Nelson frequents several forums, seems to enjoy talking shop, and perhaps you should post the question or email him.

My understanding is that the original XA series was pure class A. The meter on the front did nothing, and there was no conversion to AB. When the amps ran out of juice, they were out of juice. Anyone who has compared the 'pure' class A XA series to the new XA.5 amps has remarked that the newer design outdoes the orignial XA in every way describable.

I forgot to mention on my last post to this thread that another big difference between the XA100.5 and the XA160.5 is the amount of current that they can each deliver - 8 amps (I think) vs. 36 amps. I can't begin to understand why this makes such a difference, but it does. There is much less strain, particularly at loud volumes, with the added current. Demanding passages on demanding loads just sound more open and less compressed. There is a sense of freedom and effortlessness with the XA160.5 that is astonishing.

Perhaps someone with more technical knowledge can talk about what the increased current actually does.

What the Pass XA.5 series does to Class A signal power when speaker impedance is reduced from 8 ohm to 4 ohm is well discussed on this board. Secondly, the design differences between Class A and Class AB amplifiers can also be searched through this board. A good number of contributors to this particular message thread is aware of these facts. Furthermore I own the XA60.5, and I talked to Pass Labs personnel at time. When impedance is halved, power doubles for Class A signal. And that's just the way it is for this design.