Class A vs AB -- Do They Really Sound Different?

[GXAlan]

I'm not shipping 27.5kg of amplifier from Australia to the US and back again! And, it's not like I could give/sell it someone over there, it's a 220/240V model. And, I have the CD-12/DA-12LE player/dac and matching tuner. It's a set. Not that I use it.

I can do whatever tests here anyone wants to see, just not with an AP.

I'm curious to see if you have all of that power supply leakage that Amir had with the PM-90 or if that's the consequence of the Variac/lab supply? If you do have power supply noise, and you have any sort of line conditioner, it would be interesting to see if that reduces it. (I know what you mean about having gear that's not used... )

 

[dan3952]

I specifically use class A amplification on my high frequency horns because of crossover distortion in class A/B. Don't ask me to prove it with graphs and charts because it's none of your business.

I have lots of graphs and charts that I would have the time and inclination to provide with fellow audiophiles. It's all our business.
Forums are filled with self-proclaimed golden ears who claim they can hear things others can't, without having provided any science to back up their claims. Here's a common claim even skilled people make: "Distortion below 0.1% is inaudible and not worth talking about as a selling point of a particular product". The ability for humans to detect distortion in music goes down with frequency. At most frequencies, music has overtones that tend to mask the distortion. I own a 25 year old dual class A power amp. I don't believe for a minute that this product must sound better than current products by default just because it's dual class A, and they, "don't make them like they used to". People who have efficient speakers (like horns), sit close to them, and use subwoofers set up in such a way that the main amp doesn't have to amplify lower frequencies, may not have the class B section of their amplifiers kick in very much. It may stay in class A.

 

[SIY]

"Distortion below 0.1% is inaudible and not worth talking about as a selling point of a particular product".

The first part has a Bayesian justification. The second part is not something I've seen much of.