Class A amps ?

[Pigmy Pony]

So which class of amplifier is the technical ideal?

I must admit to being tempted by Class A amplifiers, but it’s the electricity usage that puts me off somewhat. Having a large Class A that drinks electricity as soon as it’s switched on (and bear in mind my system is on for around 14 hours a day), would be something I’d have to budget for in a sensible world, although how much difference it would make is calculable. But why pay for electricity that just gets wasted? Are pure Class A designs really that much better than the Class A/B and Class D counterparts?

You just turn your heating down to compensate, and save a bit of money there

[Filterlab]

[anthonyTD]

Class A amps still have their place in modern society, when done right, they have an effortless presentation, and an immediacy even at low volume levels that many amp designs from other class's seem to miss, untill you crank them up to a level that all too often becomes tiresome after a period of listening time.
However; i do agree that there are some great amp designs out there that get very close to Class A, without being so, class D, or switching amps are getting better all the time, and there will undoubtably come a day when Class A will have sung its final song, but until then, all those who have experienced and thus appreciate the best of what class A can bring to Audio replay, i salute you!

[Macca]

I've got three solid state class A amps and used to have a valve one too but sold it a few months back. They all sound slightly different to me.

I read some EE saying that if you go with class A design that inherently solves a lot of problems that are otherwise complex to sort out without compromising sound quality (i.e just applying a shed-load of global feedback to cover up the issue)

Which implies that a properly sorted none-class A will be just as good as a class A, and a not properly sorted none class A will always sound a bit crap. Which mirrors my own experience with amplifiers.

There's plenty of class AB and class B amps with perfect noise and distortion figures but they sound a bit veiled and grey. Because it's how you achieve that low noise and distortion that really matters .

I don't think I've ever heard a class A amp that has that problem.

Maybe that is wrong, I'm not an EE, but it's what I have understood from reading up.

[Haselsh1]

My current Class A power amp mirrors my findings of the Musical Fidelity A100X I had back around 1989. Beautifully clear, precise sound with no hardness or nasties. They both produce or produced a sound that was lovely and clear in all frequencies with an enormous soundstage. If these are typical of Class A amplifiers then I cannot recommend them more as they succeed in giving me what I always thought valves would give but never did.

[Ella65]

So which class of amplifier is the technical ideal?

I must admit to being tempted by Class A amplifiers, but it’s the electricity usage that puts me off somewhat. Having a large Class A that drinks electricity as soon as it’s switched on (and bear in mind my system is on for around 14 hours a day), would be something I’d have to budget for in a sensible world, although how much difference it would make is calculable. But why pay for electricity that just gets wasted? Are pure Class A designs really that much better than the Class A/B and Class D counterparts?

Has anybody actually calculated the running costs on a typical Class A compared to say Class A/B or valve? Is it pennies or pounds?

[Macca]

A 100 watt class A will cost about 7p per hour. So cheaper than using an expensive cartridge. Unless you have to do that as well.

[Haselsh1]

A 100 watt class A will cost about 7p per hour. So cheaper than using an expensive cartridge. Unless you have to do that as well.

Our 'Smart' meter indicates that it is costing around 7p per hour to run which has to be a bargain.

[Pigmy Pony]

My 'smart meter' follows me round the house, switching off lights. She hasn't twigged about the hi fi yet.

[Macca]

My 'smart meter' follows me round the house, switching off lights. She hasn't twigged about the hi fi yet.

I rarely have more than one light on and that uses 2 watts an hour. So if I left it on continuously for 500 hours it would cost 12p. Lighting the house costs me about a quid a year.