The "charactor" of pure Class A?

I would have to agree...an amp is either a good amp or its not...regardless of design...there are those that put a high value on specs, distortion,etc...but listening is the key...that being said...i used to have an early Musical fidelity a series as well...great amp...im an idiot for letting that go...but they did have some reliability issues due to heat...and the fact that some place other componets on top of them(bad idea)....Sugden is another famous class a company....

Own the Sugden A21SE integrated. I've owned very good SS/tube amps over the years, a myriad of English, Japanese and American built. The characteristic that most impresses me with the Sugden is the lightening quickness. I was convinced that I had owned fairly quick amps in the past with great attack, but this thing is in a class by itself. The vocals and acoustic piano are quite good, bass is remarkably solid and quick.

The midrange is not quite as sweet as say my VTLs were. Imaging seems very respectable although I wouldn't say it floats the instruments in an airy way. I'm running Coincident Triumphs with 93db efficiency, so it doesn't have much work for a 30wpc amp.

For some, Class A is an article of faith, for others just a myth.

Given the inconvenience of high heat and the added expense of building Class A, it's an awfully high maintenance myth, if it is one.

Cdc, just for the record, anytime you are 'mixing' class A with B, its called A/B. IOW that's the definition.

Also, Class A amplifiers are the best at rock- Class A should be the best at everything, FWIW. If Stereophile said otherwise it is only because they are completely dead wrong.

This is not to say that 'all class A amps sound better than all class A/B amps' or whatever, since there are so many design variables that exist. But class A, as a class of operation, is the best for all types of music.

Well, getting back to the question Ralph. I think Mr. Carsten is entirely correct . True class A amps have muscle if you can imagine that, Yes they great for Rock you must have read that wrong.
The signature is a tad of warmth Atmasphere amps aside, and are willing to play the bottom octave if need be they to. The amp will truly double their output
This happens whenever a split in resistance occurs let's say Clayton says it will generate 100wpc at 8 OHMs that's what they mean for a linear lab generated 8 ohm resistance. When in true life they double their out put to 200WPC at 4 ohms and so on, for every drop in resistance, if the amp is built to work at 1 ohm, like Krell.
That finally before burning the to amp to pieces at 1 ohm the amp generates an incredible 800Wpc.