Can you hear class A vs Class A/B?

[Jim]

I was curious to see what some of you had to say.

I enjoy the Class A vs A/B debate - because I've never heard a real demo comparing the two. There, I said it. I have nothing invested either way.

I know that there are some that insist "Class A is the best thing ever, I won't settle". I get that. I completely understand that Class A, from a purist point of view, is better. From a technical point of view, I think the XPA-1L will make a lot of people happy. You get your class A, but you also still have a robust amp.

I was just curious what others had to say, with as much as class A is talked about. It seems like at times we end up talking about class A like it's good, and class A/B like it's some substandard beast.

[Jim]

woo hoo, one vote other than my own!

[Deleted]

Mar 12, 2013 8:59:38 GMT -5 Jim said:

woo hoo, one vote other than my own!

HAHA

I voted no. Why? Because i enjoy music and not sitting there critically tearing the music apart.

Maybe there is a difference. Don't care if there is. I like music more

I suppose i should have choose the last option but personally can't hear a difference.

[jackfish]

I agree, stop trying to listen to the equipment and start listening to the music.

[monkumonku]

Mar 12, 2013 9:21:40 GMT -5 jackfish said:

I agree, stop trying to listen to the equipment and start listening to the music.

You mean we should try and get away from academic (audiodemic) eggheadism? ;D

Like fussing over how many bytes can dance on the head of the pins of a hard drive connector?

[cgolf]

I can't pick option #4 because I don't want to waste one of the few hairs that I have left on my head by splitting it...

So I chose #3 since I've never heard an A/B demo of either.

For me, I think listening to the music or listening to the equipment sometimes becomes one and the same or at least they merge to some degree to where I'm not sure which I'm listening to.

And probably really don't care!! ;D because it doesn't matter as long as I'm enjoying the sound............

[Porscheguy]

I say you're splitting hairs, and you need other top notch components as well..

[monkumonku]

Mar 12, 2013 10:22:07 GMT -5 cgolf said:

I can't pick option #4 because I don't want to waste one of the few hairs that I have left on my head by splitting it...

So I chose #3 since I've never heard an A/B demo of either.

For me, I think listening to the music or listening to the equipment sometimes becomes one and the same or at least they merge to some degree to where I'm not sure which I'm listening to.

And probably really don't care!! ;D because it doesn't matter if I'm enjoying the sound............

But how can you possibly enjoy the music or movie if you know that the specs could be better??? ;D It provokes a constant state of anxiety.

Oh by the way to the OP - can you add a 5th choice, "My wife can hear the difference and will stop and spend 4 hours on the sofa with me listening to it"

[audiophill]

I feel it's a matter of personal preference. The question is can you hear a difference. I heard a difference between a true class a amp and a/b amp. Can i say i like one over the other, i guess it depends on all the equipment involved. A class a amp sounded awesome on my Klipsch speakers, however on my friends Theil speakers i felt they lacked punch. Once again i think it depends on the system it is in as my klipsch speakers are over 100 sensitivity where as the theil i believe were 86. In his system the a/b amp had more punch with his speakers but in my system the class a amp was a perfect match. To each his own but i did just order 2 xpa-1L's and look forward to comparing them against my xpr-5 at lower volumes of course.

[cgolf]

Mar 12, 2013 10:33:32 GMT -5 audiophill said:

I feel it's a matter of personal preference. The question is can you hear a difference. I heard a difference between a true class a amp and a/b amp. Can i say i like one over the other, i guess it depends on all the equipment involved. A class a amp sounded awesome on my Klipsch speakers, however on my friends Theil speakers i felt they lacked punch. Once again i think it depends on the system it is in as my klipsch speakers are over 100 sensitivity where as the theil i believe were 86. In his system the a/b amp had more punch with his speakers but in my system the class a amp was a perfect match. To each his own but i did just order 2 xpa-1L's and look forward to comparing them against my xpr-5 at lower volumes of course.

Sooooo, should we expect either a pair of 1Ls or an XPR-5 to be up for sale soon??? ;D

[cgolf]

Mar 12, 2013 10:31:53 GMT -5 monkumonku said:

Mar 12, 2013 10:22:07 GMT -5 cgolf said:

I can't pick option #4 because I don't want to waste one of the few hairs that I have left on my head by splitting it...

So I chose #3 since I've never heard an A/B demo of either.

For me, I think listening to the music or listening to the equipment sometimes becomes one and the same or at least they merge to some degree to where I'm not sure which I'm listening to.

And probably really don't care!! ;D because it doesn't matter if I'm enjoying the sound............

But how can you possibly enjoy the music or movie if you know that the specs could be better??? ;D It provokes a constant state of anxiety.

Oh by the way to the OP - can you add a 5th choice, "My wife can hear the difference and will stop and spend 4 hours on the sofa with me listening to it"

But then you get all of that "sweet bonding time" with your honey...... ;D

[Jim]

This thread has definitely provided some interesting perspectives. I'm surprised how many people feel it's splitting hairs (Nothing bad about it - just interesting).

Porscheguy - your comment about needing other top notch components is well stated. No doubt having consistently good components across the board is important.

YES! I would absolutely love to add a 5th choice "My wife can hear the difference and will stop and spend 4 hours on the sofa with me listening to it" if I could edit the poll!

[harri009]

I voted that you can hear a difference. My wife made a few comments about how much smoother the sound was (in a good way) than before. I had not told her about how the Pass amp functions or even what class A was. It does has a smoothness to it that A/B is lacking.

[frenchyfranky]

ABSOLUTELY YES!

I owned for more then 20 years 2 Nelson Pass amp's design, the Forté Audio model 1A 50wpc pure class A and a Forté Audio model 3 200wpc class AB. These two amps use exactly the same parts, power supply, transistor, board etc., except for the model 1A the circuit design is in class A and for the model 3 is in class AB, I can tell the sounding result is absolutely different, very different.

Forté Audio model 1A



Forté Audio model 3

[Dark Ranger]

I voted I've never heard a first hand comparison/demo because it's true. The 1L will be my first experience with significant Class A amplification.

The majority of technical literature I've read makes a really good case that Class A sounds the best. However, great A/B amplifiers also help close the gap. We'll see whether my ears/brain can detect a difference and what my final verdict will be.

[monkumonku]

Mar 12, 2013 13:05:02 GMT -5 Dark Ranger said:

I voted I've never heard a first hand comparison/demo because it's true. The 1L will be my first experience with significant Class A amplification.

The majority of technical literature I've read makes a really good case that Class A sounds the best. However, great A/B amplifiers also help close the gap. We'll see whether my ears/brain can detect a difference and what my final verdict will be.

Hear hear! I second that. ;D

[cgolf]

Well I guess all this discussion just blows the theory that amps just amplify out of the water!!!!

Sounds to me like everyone is saying that amps do have their own signature and do color, modify, impact, change, etc. the sound................

[DYohn]

Amps in the same class sound pretty much the same. Amps in one class can sound very different from amps in another class.

[Cory Cooper]

I have never heard a direct comparison either. I am VERY interested in hearing people's impressions of the XPA-1L.

Hopefully I will get the chance to visit Emotiva on my upcoming trip to Nashville and hear them in person.

C

[cgolf]

I'm selling gear, saving up and planning on purchasing a pair. Should be a nice addition!! ;D