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Short signal path A/B vs class H topology
#247353 02/17/09 05:11 AM
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Micah Offline OP
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Ok I certainly cannot believe this topic hasn't been absolutely beaten to death on this site several times already... however, all the searching my litte brain can muster hasn't gathered any threads at all dedicated to this comparison. So if someone who's smarter than me would please point me in the right direction, I'm looking to find out what the major differences and/or advantages either may have over the other.

My investigations have uncovered that class H power runs about 3 times the price as A/B power supplies cost. Why exactly is this? Are they that sonically superior? Or is it just a status thing, like 'tube' amps? I have seen audiophile grade amplifiers that use A/B power supplies, but can they sound as good as class H amplifiers that cost 3 times as much?

Just curious. Again if there are endless threads that discuss this for days a simple link will suffice. I just don't know my way around here very well it seems.


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Re: Short signal path A/B vs class H topology
Micah #247362 02/17/09 09:37 AM
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Micah, no such thread exists here, or would be necessary. Amplifier classes don't in themselves determine the accuracy of amplification. If the amplifier amplifies the incoming voltage with flat frequency response and inaudibly low noise and distortion(as is typical these days), it's performed its function without an audible flaw, regardless of what specific technology(and amount of money)has been applied to reach that result.


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Re: Short signal path A/B vs class H topology
JohnK #247389 02/17/09 03:17 PM
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Here is an amp tha can run 4x100 at 4 ohms for only $90. Buy a AC/DC converter and you should be good to go.
1000 Watts


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Re: Short signal path A/B vs class H topology
Zimm #247409 02/17/09 05:40 PM
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Micah Offline OP
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Hmmmm, interesting. So then the only thing class 'H' power has over A/B power is that it's more efficient? So basically if I'm trying to conserve power then I buy into the class 'H' topology and empty my wallet out up front vs spending more down the road on power consumption... is that the idea?

Or do people just like to spend more of their hard earned dinero's on the letter 'H' than on the combination of 'A/B'???


My Stuff :

M80's
QS8's
VP150
EP800
Denon 4802
Emotiva XPA-3
Samsung BD-P3600
Sharp 65 Inch Aquos LCD
Re: Short signal path A/B vs class H topology
Micah #247416 02/17/09 06:00 PM
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Heat is also a big issue. Class D is, I think, twice as efficient as A/B. So all else being equal, you get less heat and equal power from a smaller power supply. Not sure about H, but D is becoming very common.


Panny 3000 PJ, 118" Carada, Denon 3300, PS3, Axiom QS8, PSB 5T, B&W sub, levitating speaker wire

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