Actually difference between class A and AB?

10-23-11: Soundlock
"If you're not one of the elitist that wont have anything but a class A amp, suggest you try a Magtech amp by Sanders Sound Systems.
Has a 30 day no risk trial. What does one have to lose?"

Just to clarify, the Magtech is not a class A amp (you didn't state it was but kinda sounded like you did).
What one has to lose is the same thing one has to lose with just about every other piece of gear - Time, hassle, etc.
btw: The write up on the Magtech sounds a lot like the Sunfire amps by Bob Carver with the "Tracking Down Converter" power supplies, although there isn't enough info in the Magtech write-up to understand the technology used:
http://www.hometheaterhifi.com/volume_2_3/v2n3f.html

Sorry Rok2id, I guess I misunderstood. I thought you were stating that nobody on the thread addressed sonic differences when listening, which are in fact addressed in my last paragraph, at least based on my experiences.

I guess I'm nobody then

Mithch2: "If I were to generalize based on my experience, in an attempt to answer your question, I would say well designed Class A amps, when compared to well designed AB amps, offer “sweeter” sounding high frequencies with less tendency towards grain or harshness, seductive midranges that are generally full and rich sounding with excellent harmonics, as well as being more dimensional..."

TY, Mitch--I could not have written it better nor agreed more. To my 67-year-old (non-Golden) ears, the really good Class-A amps sound just a little bit smoother--less edgy, grainy--but still highy detailed.

I've had (and LOVED) Vandersteen 5As for months. Altho they're relatively insensitive at c. 87dB, a few weeks ago I bought and started using on the 5As two pairs of twenty-year-old Marantz MA-24s.

http://www.dutchaudioclassics.nl/Marantz_MA-24_Music_Link_power_amplifier/

They're rated at 30 into 8 and 60 into 4, and with 4 amps driving the 5As' 6-to-4-Ohm impedance, combined maximum continuous power is around 200. That's plenty enough for me, even in my largish--c. 3200CF--room. These amps never sound gritty, edgy, grainy--and are always detailed and musical. They are indeed full-Class-A and do get hot, but that's certainly manageable in my room.

Class-A is a design tool that I appreciate and can afford, and my Class-A amps sound fabulous to me. Other amps sound great, too, and I don't argue with anyone who chooses not to buy Class-A amps. We're blessed with LOTS of fine-sounding amp to choose from.
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I find that class A amplifiers play bass better as well as being smoother in the mids and highs. They can also be more detailed as they make less distortion.

BTW/FWIW there is no such thing as A/AB. That would simply be an AB amplifier. If you see such designations they are marketing terms, not technical terms.