Frequently asked questions about amplifiers, preamplifiers, integrated amplifiers, power amplifiers, advantages and disadvantages of each type, etc.
Yes, transistors can be replaced in almost all cases, with excellent results with the correct replacements. Part of the art of repairing electronics involves using replacement/substitute parts and understanding how to select them when original parts are no longer available (NLA). This art is generally not well understood. Here is a perfect example: Substitution Transistors […]
Can transistors in my vintage amplifier be replaced? Read More »
Class A is the gold standard and always used where cost is not a factor. Based purely on performance and sonics, the highest-fidelity amplifier design is class A. Speaker sensitivity, combined with your amplifier’s power output, determines the system dynamic range, an important consideration not to be overlooked though. No Compromise Nothing sounds better than
For hi-fi purposes, none. Class B is often used for radiofrequency broadcast amplifiers, where high power and low spurious RF emissions (sorry, no class-D in radio!) make it a great choice. On its own though, class B suffers from relatively high (crossover) distortion and is unsuitable for audio for that reason. Combined with a little
Class AB amplifiers offer many advantages that make them the most commonly found designs in the mainstream hi-fi space. For example, class AB amplifiers offer lower cost and cooler operation than class A designs, with some of the finesse and high fidelity, but with some of the punch and brute force power of class B
Class A amplifiers deliver the smoothest, most euphonic sonic performance. That’s why class A is always used in high-end designs where cost is no object. The best class A amplifiers are MOSFET or tube-based designs, for a variety of engineering reasons, but good BJT device class A designs also exist, like my old Krell KSA-150,
