Amp/Preamp Asylum

Typical solid state amps have highest distortion at lowest levels

24.246.23.111

Feanor

A

In Reply to: RE: If it's for your Maggies - do you think you have much of a chance to listen to these amps in Class A? N/T posted by hahax@verizon.net on September 28, 2013 at 20:08:11

So, if my understanding is right, operating in class A mode is a way to mitigate distortion at low levels of power.

According to Emotiva, the XPA-1L can set to operate class AB from a low lever OR to operate class A up to 35 at the expense of greater heat and power consumption.

I love the music of ... ... Gustav Mahler

Follow Ups:

I believe you are wrong... - rlw 08:03:28 09/29/13 (4)
You can switch from pure Class A mode 100% of the time, limiting the output to 35 watts/ch. or to a Class A mode that then switches to Class AB above 35 watts output OR if their thermal sensor indicates that it needs to switch modes.

-RW-
- RE: I believe you are wrong... - pictureguy 21:30:59 10/02/13 (2)
  If I understand the EMO 'stuff' on this amp....and I've even hung around the EMO boards, is that the amp will 'slide' into AB above 35 watts with the switch in 'A'........or simply SKIP 'A' altogether when the switch is in AB position.
  Also, this amp is 35 class 'A' watts, and 250/ 500 @ 8 / 4 which exceeds the Pass performance of say...the XA30.5
  Personally? I like the Pass 'switchless' approach.
  The bossman at EMO visits the boards and calls the L1 a 'spaceheater'. Me? In winter that would be tempting but in summer, a drain on my electric bill!
  Even the Pass X.5 series has a class 'A' margin. But NO switch.
  
  I've considered 4 of 'em to BIAMP my MG 1.6s!!!
  Too much is never enough
  - Nowhere has your tag line seemed more appropriate than here. - axolotl 22:23:13 10/02/13 (1)
    "I've considered 4 of 'em to BIAMP my MG 1.6s!!!
    Too much is never enough"
    
    %^D
    
    axolotl
    - RE: Nowhere has your tag line seemed more appropriate than here. - pictureguy 09:10:28 10/06/13 (0)
      Sure.....4 of 'em.
      Need a balanced preamp with low output impedance and XLR splitters. Amp stands would take up QUITE a bit of floor.....might need double-deckers!
      But OH! 70 'A' watts per speaker! and a KiloWatt in reserve.
      
      It's even possible with a preamp with bass managment to take some of the LF load off the panels...say at 60 or 70 hz and make better use of the sub. A 70hz crossover at 12 db/oct would put the panel down 12db at about its lower limit, anyway....of 35hz.....a good idea?
      Too much is never enough
- No: here is what Emotiva says ... - Feanor 08:21:30 09/29/13 (0)
  Emotiva says:
  
  "In Class A/B Mode, the XPA-1L is a potent, superb sounding, fully balanced mono-block Class A/B amplifier � delivering 250 watts into 8 ohms (or 500 watts into 4 ohms) with incredibly low levels of noise and distortion. Flip the switch into Class A Mode and the XPA-1L transforms into pure Class A, high bias 35 watt sweetheart... with a kick. If you exceed the 35 watt threshold, it seamlessly transitions into Class A/B mode when the signal level goes above 35 watts, allowing it to deliver its full power. You get the awesome purity of Class A for power levels up to 35 watts, with none of the high power limitations. (The XPA-1L does run a bit warmer in Class A Mode, but hey, it's worth it.)"
  
  I love the music of ... ... Gustav Mahler
  - Emotiva says ... (Open in New Window)
RE: Typical solid state amps have highest distortion at lowest levels - hahax@verizon.net 07:33:28 09/29/13 (3)
While class A has pluses the price you pay for it is high in less power and lots of heat, which is minimal at full power and greatest at least power, where the amp operates almost all the time. A watt is a fair amount of power, 85 db or more on most speakers, and that's pretty loud. Biasing class A at a watt or less does a pretty good job.
- The typical AB amp has a low bias setting ... - Feanor 08:26:02 09/29/13 (2)
  Let's say 1-5 watts which gets rid of the most blatant notch distortion. But a higher bias -- or pure class A -- gets rid of additional distortion according to various pundits.
  
  I love the music of ... ... Gustav Mahler
  - RE: The typical AB amp has a low bias setting ... - hahax@verizon.net 10:28:13 09/29/13 (1)
    That's the conventional wisdom and it makes sense to me. But I recall an article somewhere where the writer claimed class B done correctly was better. And some of the greatest amps are probably David Berning's designs and his are as close to class B as he can make them.
    - RE: The typical AB amp has a low bias setting ... - bigshow 17:29:51 10/06/13 (0)
      So nobody has heard them?
      bigshow

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