What Paul says from 1:40 on I correct I believe.. In fact take Tube vs Solid State... Early on SS was Hard and Strident and Tubes were Soft And Tubby ( Generally speaking).. Now SS has moved more in the Tube Direction and Tubes have moved in the SS direction to meet in the middle somewhat.. ie, the differences arn't as dramatic as they once were.. My 2 cents ( which is worth a whole lot less)
I find it hard to leave covers on, too, but I have an amplifier I've owned for decades and still never opened --- an HH Scott Stereomaster 260 from the mid-1960s. It sounds Very good.
Best integrated amp i ever had was a nad 390dd awesome sound and built in digital crossover made my bw 805 and 800 sub shine! Did anything from classic to death metal with an allmost annoying ease.. great fun.. it was just music.. miss that rig sooo much even today
Well put, as with most things synergy is king. To my knowledge the majority of devices that deal with line level or lower operate in class A anyway, because it's the simplest and the efficiency doesn't really matter. Even at power amp level I doubt many people could pick out the sound of one class or another, assuming a good design. Personally I've always stuck with class A, but that's really only because I love huge sexy exposed heatsinks on my amps. Plus the "free" heat output is quite nice in the winter.
Don't pretty much all low level gain stages, in preamps, phono stages, and sources operate in class A? The only reason we use other classes of amplification in a power amp, is increased efficiency at the high power levels required.
I have an s300 and the one there is a mono block. Hence only 4 output jacks. Could be an m700 or m1200. But m1200 has a tube in the input stage. So probably an m700.
@@scottscottsdale7868 Yup, clearly the amp is M700.. Before Paul pointing out the Class A input and Class D output, the "box" he was mentioning seem too familiar for me, since I got one myself..
You made a great point about amplifier classes. Yes, I also questioned the difference on classes. Hitachi had a 'Class G' in the late 70s (whatever Class G meant).
@@PetraKann Evidently so. My guess is that it was something proprietary that Hitachi developed for their receivers in the late 1970s. I was told that the Hitachi SR-804, SR-904, and others used this scheme. I have no idea what it was about. I remember the advertisements, but I don't remember actually seeing one.
You bet! Only if you do something that breaks it do we get expensive. So, take the top cover off and drop a hammer inside while the unit's on probably wouldn't be a good idea. :) But no, take it off and have fun.
I agree with Paul in how we would ideally look at this, but I’m not sure the majority agrees. You have to be pretty discerning to be an audiophile to begin with. I believe many of us look at the Class A-AB-D categories much the way people view the cylinder count in an engine before they buy an automobile.
Lol!! Well in a nerd too then, I open every piece of gear I own at least once to admire or critique the layout and components. Its almost as fun as using it.
Was reading a spec on a box for a new audio install and noticed it was class AD not AB or D(no it was not a miss print ) Now im wondering...What exactly is a class AD amplifier and how does it compare to class D amplifiers? Thank you.
I'm a tech as well, and have to agree with what he's sharing. There will be technical differences between classes. Using class A on the front end is sort of an assumed requirement (of course I'm speaking with age being 55 before class D was popular) and following that A section into a class D would provide better efficiency since A is less efficient. If you don't care about efficiency, I agree with his view, who cares.
One of the simplest ways to improve the sound of your system is to stretch out the loudspeakers cables out and not leave them bunched up or coiled. You get more clarity and punch in the lower frequencies. Save a few bucks on new equipment.
You left out enhanced class AB which is very popular with many of the audio manufacturers. Runs Class A until it gets near clipping and then automatically switches to AB mode.
My system consists of FET class A phono and line stage (obviously) preamp‘s and a tube amplifier running in enhanced class AB mode. There is a synergistic relationship between all of my equipment right now. Plasty amplifiers are getting better and better and in the future that may be the way most designs are done.
@Douglas Blake I have experience with this. I originally purchased an audio research VT 100 Mk I Amplifier which was pure class AB then about six months later Traded up to the Mk II which was a new release with minor improvements. When the Mk III What is the introduced using this circuit topology of the VT 200, oh wealthy individuals traded a one month old model into my dealer who sold it to me for next to nothing if I gave him back the Mk II Which was a total redesign and introduced the enhanced AB mode. A major improvement. You can read all of the reviews on Absolute Sound, Stereophile and others where they all agree about the sonic improvements. My next step will be to try to find a Ref 110 which is supposedly a major improvement over the VT 100. Time will tell. And yes, the heat produced is an issue but what are your research installed a quiet fan in version two and three and I know that the roof 100 also has a fan which only forces the generated heat into the room more.
Here is a list of amplifier classes: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, O, P and Q, but not all of them are usable for audio applications, as they are better suited some cases for RF amplification.
Class D is about twice as efficient as class AB. I use loudspeakers which have a 6 dB higher sensitivity with my class AB amplifier. That’s four times as efficient!!
SMPS CLASS D ARE/IS AMAZING! Im totally fascinated by them - no transformer (sometimes), the full whammy of current, if needed. Also, they can come in small packages. When listening to another class of amp it is easy to fall in love, but when being bitten on the back of the ankle by class D with a good good dynamic recording - My GOD!!! I went to an event space in Birmingham (uk) and they had a very well set-up PA system...ummm....ahhhhh.....that;s a whole load of other stuff happening, which I dont know about actually. But, class D, in the right time/place/component - arghh!
Just about ALL line amps (aka phono, EQ's, microphone and diff-amps) are class-A. It just means..fully biased..all the time. Class-D is mostly used in high-power Power Amps that are designed to drive low impedance loads (like subwoofers) or car-amps. Recently class-D has become more common for general use now that the THD and noise levels have come down. Headphone amps are STILL class-A (or A/B).
Paul has to be the most happy, laid back and utterly content CEO in the world .. An amazing guy !
Is that you, Paul?
What Paul says from 1:40 on I correct I believe.. In fact take Tube vs Solid State... Early on SS was Hard and Strident and Tubes were Soft And Tubby ( Generally speaking).. Now SS has moved more in the Tube Direction and Tubes have moved in the SS direction to meet in the middle somewhat.. ie, the differences arn't as dramatic as they once were.. My 2 cents ( which is worth a whole lot less)
"Hi, my name is Paul M and I'm an Audioholic.....Hi Paul"
Hi everyone, im erik 😂
I find it hard to leave covers on, too,
but I have an amplifier I've owned for decades and still never opened ---
an HH Scott Stereomaster 260 from the mid-1960s.
It sounds Very good.
Best integrated amp i ever had was a nad 390dd awesome sound and built in digital crossover made my bw 805 and 800 sub shine! Did anything from classic to death metal with an allmost annoying ease.. great fun.. it was just music.. miss that rig sooo much even today
What happened to it ? You should've hung onto it !
@@janinapalmer8368 yeah i know, sold the lot while moving to a new home.. regret that lol
@@berjohansen yeah I know I've been there done that too... my motto is " when you're on to a good thing STICK with it !!"
He is like an audio philosopher.
Well put, as with most things synergy is king. To my knowledge the majority of devices that deal with line level or lower operate in class A anyway, because it's the simplest and the efficiency doesn't really matter. Even at power amp level I doubt many people could pick out the sound of one class or another, assuming a good design. Personally I've always stuck with class A, but that's really only because I love huge sexy exposed heatsinks on my amps. Plus the "free" heat output is quite nice in the winter.
Well said paranOia7. And any class A amps that I came across did do the 'space heater effect.'
Don't pretty much all low level gain stages, in preamps, phono stages, and sources operate in class A? The only reason we use other classes of amplification in a power amp, is increased efficiency at the high power levels required.
And that’s why they are called ‘power amplifier classes’.
That amp that you use as an example at the end. Wouldn't happen to be a Stellar S300 would it? It looks mighty familiar!
I have an s300 and the one there is a mono block. Hence only 4 output jacks. Could be an m700 or m1200. But m1200 has a tube in the input stage. So probably an m700.
@@scottscottsdale7868 Yup, clearly the amp is M700.. Before Paul pointing out the Class A input and Class D output, the "box" he was mentioning seem too familiar for me, since I got one myself..
I love these insights.
Perfectly said, Paul.
Couldn't agree with you more, Paul!
Hi Paul as an audiophile what class of amplifiers is best for you and why
You made a great point about amplifier classes. Yes, I also questioned the difference on classes. Hitachi had a 'Class G' in the late 70s (whatever Class G meant).
G?
@@PetraKann Evidently so. My guess is that it was something proprietary that Hitachi developed for their receivers in the late 1970s. I was told that the Hitachi SR-804, SR-904, and others used this scheme. I have no idea what it was about. I remember the advertisements, but I don't remember actually seeing one.
@@PetraKann C and H also exist.
Wikipedia!!
And what about class T ?
Gan amp combines all the class characteristics, end game performance in all levels.
Jesus, I cannot wait.
Yep! Once I topped off the top and peeked inside. All of sudden the sound changed either good. excellent or bad.
So, just to confirm, a full PS Audio warranty is still in place if I go ahead and take off that top cover?
You bet! Only if you do something that breaks it do we get expensive. So, take the top cover off and drop a hammer inside while the unit's on probably wouldn't be a good idea. :) But no, take it off and have fun.
I agree with Paul in how we would ideally look at this, but I’m not sure the majority agrees. You have to be pretty discerning to be an audiophile to begin with. I believe many of us look at the Class A-AB-D categories much the way people view the cylinder count in an engine before they buy an automobile.
Good analogy.
2:39 Paul thinks , that he is the only one in a Hi-Fi industry who is making this style amplifiers . LOL
Lol!! Well in a nerd too then,
I open every piece of gear I own at least once to admire or critique the layout and components.
Its almost as fun as using it.
How does one take off the rough edge off of what we hear? With the help of an audio "file."
I think Paul is teasing use with the moving of the IRS V out for the FR30s come on Paul we saw ya move them out lol don't leave us hanging my friend
When i Hooked My Dyna PAS to my Harmon Kardon Citation twelve it was a Revelation years ago.[ Decades]
Was reading a spec on a box for a new audio install and noticed it was class AD not AB or D(no it was not a miss print )
Now im wondering...What exactly is a class AD amplifier and how does it compare to class D amplifiers?
Thank you.
I have no idea. New one on me.
does it metter for sound quality..?...I don't think so...sound quality depends on our speakers...
I'm a tech as well, and have to agree with what he's sharing. There will be technical differences between classes. Using class A on the front end is sort of an assumed requirement (of course I'm speaking with age being 55 before class D was popular) and following that A section into a class D would provide better efficiency since A is less efficient. If you don't care about efficiency, I agree with his view, who cares.
One of the simplest ways to improve the sound of your system is to stretch out the loudspeakers cables out and not leave them bunched up or coiled. You get more clarity and punch in the lower frequencies. Save a few bucks on new equipment.
is that a psb alpha b25?
Many manufacturers mix them to great effect. You get the best of both designs. Bashing Amps.
I reckon.
You left out enhanced class AB which is very popular with many of the audio manufacturers. Runs Class A until it gets near clipping and then automatically switches to AB mode.
My system consists of FET class A phono and line stage (obviously) preamp‘s and a tube amplifier running in enhanced class AB mode. There is a synergistic relationship between all of my equipment right now. Plasty amplifiers are getting better and better and in the future that may be the way most designs are done.
@Douglas Blake Exactly! Nevertheless, many audio manufacturers designs were pure class AB until someone came up with this new design philosophy.
@Douglas Blake I have experience with this. I originally purchased an audio research VT 100 Mk I Amplifier which was pure class AB then about six months later Traded up to the Mk II which was a new release with minor improvements. When the Mk III What is the introduced using this circuit topology of the
VT 200, oh wealthy individuals traded a one month old model into my dealer who sold it to me for next to nothing if I gave him back the Mk II Which was a total redesign and introduced the enhanced AB mode. A major improvement. You can read all of the reviews on Absolute Sound, Stereophile and others where they all agree about the sonic improvements. My next step will be to try to find a Ref 110 which is supposedly a major improvement over the VT 100. Time will tell. And yes, the heat produced is an issue but what are your research installed a quiet fan in version two and three and I know that the roof 100 also has a fan which only forces the generated heat into the room more.
Here is a list of amplifier classes: A, B, C, D, E, F, G, H, I, O, P and Q, but not all of them are usable for audio applications, as they are better suited some cases for RF amplification.
So and what about class T ?
Try the Orchard amps.
I just want to know how long that Starbucks cup behind Paul has been sitting there.
Manufacturers love class D because they are cheap, dunno why we'd want them except maybe for surround channels in a ~16 channel system.
Subwoofers come to mind. Generally speaking I've found class D to be exceptionally well suited to lower frequencies.
Class D is about twice as efficient as class AB. I use loudspeakers which have a 6 dB higher sensitivity with my class AB amplifier. That’s four times as efficient!!
Class D also don't weigh 900 pounds (exaduration!!)
@@JC-lk3oy Subwoofer plate amp failure is about as common as tooth decay.
@@Roof_Pizza what subs are you using? I've never had a Rythmik or REL sub with a single failure of their plate amps.
💪
SMPS CLASS D ARE/IS AMAZING! Im totally fascinated by them - no transformer (sometimes), the full whammy of current, if needed. Also, they can come in small packages. When listening to another class of amp it is easy to fall in love, but when being bitten on the back of the ankle by class D with a good good dynamic recording - My GOD!!! I went to an event space in Birmingham (uk) and they had a very well set-up PA system...ummm....ahhhhh.....that;s a whole load of other stuff happening, which I dont know about actually. But, class D, in the right time/place/component - arghh!
what you need is your class d amplifier 4000 watt driving your valve amplifier power supply match made in heaven
Chocolate with chilli? Sure.
Just about ALL line amps (aka phono, EQ's, microphone and diff-amps) are class-A. It just means..fully biased..all the time. Class-D is mostly used in high-power Power Amps that are designed to drive low impedance loads (like subwoofers) or car-amps. Recently class-D has become more common for general use now that the THD and noise levels have come down. Headphone amps are STILL class-A (or A/B).
Marry Christmas
Marry Christmas
I know class D is great , but class A the way to go cleaner no wonder why ATc speakers use class A only
Short hair................. We all know people with pocket protectors are real engineers!
Then we can go into class AB1, AB2 ...
yep first thing first
Bet accepted... Double or nothing?
I usually go with a class A doobie stage.