Originally Posted by
RothwellAudio
I think you might be referring to a circuit that Hitachi published for their complementary power MOSFETs. Maplin used to sell a very popular power amp kit that used the Hitachi circuit and I made an amp with a pair of them many years ago. It was actually a very good amp but I've heard better since then.
Yes, I agree. Power amp distortion is most often quoted at full - or nearly full - power output, but what about what's happening at the other end of the power spectrum? In my opinion that's more important.
I built those as well. Pretty good amps yes. The commercial Hitachi amps were a little different though. I remember showing them working with a sig gen and scope for a 6th form science open night! That design from Hitachi USA applications department surely has to be the most used/copied in all of hi-fi! Obviously it was put in the public domain to encourage sales of Hitachi power mosfets but it was used by Musical Fidelity, Perreaux, Myst, Inca Tech to name just a few...
On your second point I quite agree. So does Pass Labs with their "First Watt" stuff.
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