Frequently Asked Questions about Amplifiers

• Why should you buy a Class A amplifier?

Class A amplifiers produce better, more accurate sound quality — pure and simple. Class A circuit construction is designed to be better than Class AB, Class B and Class D due to the fact that Class A eliminates harmonic and cross distortion. In our T&L Pro Amp Int35W, we use an advanced DC power supply with high speed Schottky Barrier Diodes (SBD) and audio capacitors, making excellent rectifying efficiency, and the power amplifier a fast MOSFET device (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor). This means the power amplifier has excellent Hi-Fi Audio Dynamic Response Power for speakers. Class A devices are Hi-Resolution grade because the preamplifier uses operational amplifiers (OP) and Texas Instruments LME 49990 THD+N. Distortion + noise (1KHZ) is 0.00001%, an exceptional level of clarity that is expected by audiophiles.

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• What is the difference between a Class A and a Class AB amplifier?

Class AB is not as effective at reducing noise and distortion as a Class A Amplifier. Class AB manufacturers reduce the circuit current to reduce heat, but as a result, sound quality suffers.

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• What’s the difference between Class A and "Pure" Class A?

Amazing as it may sound, some audio manufacturers use Class AB parts and circuitry, but call it “Class A”. This is done in order to reduce the power used by the device and the amount of heat generated. Thus real Class A amplifier manufacturers that use ONLY Class A parts and circuitry define their products as "Pure Class A" to inform the customer of its uncompromising sound quality.

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• How hot do our amplifiers get?

The surface temperature of our Pure Class A amplifiers will be at or below 50° C (122° F) if the room temperature is 25° C (77° F) or lower. The surface temperature of our Pure Class A amplifiers can exceed 50° C if the room temperature is over 30° C (86° F).  The surface temperature of our Pure Class A amplifiers will exceed 65° C (149° F) if the room temperature is over 40° C (104° F) if not properly ventilated. Be sure to provide sufficient space around the amplifier's cooling fins to prevent excessive heat buildup, and provide moving air if possible. Our Class A amplifiers all contain a Heat Security Switch, which will automatically turn the unit off when the heat reaches 75° C (167° F). The Heat Security Switch will inactivate the unit until the cooling fin surface temperature falls below 55° C (131° F).  On average our amplifiers operate at around 50° C (122° F), which is hot to the touch but not enough to burn or cause harm.

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• What’s the difference between a vacuum tube amplifier and solid state Class A amplifier?

Vacuum tubes are 1940's technology, using tungsten filaments inside an airless glass tube to produce amplification. Our solid state amplifiers take advantage of MOSFET (Metal Oxide Semiconductor Field-Effect Transistor) semiconductors to deliver and amplify the music signal. The "slew rate" (fast switching rate) is much better and faster than vacuum tubes, and MOSFET eliminates transient distortion (see video below). Repair costs for vacuum tube amplifiers is much higher than solid state. The normal life of a solid state amplifier is over 10 years.

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• Do you provide custom-build services for customers?

Yes, we do. Just provide us with the details of what you want on our Contact page or call us at 800.345.6789.

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• Why are the KENWELL Home Int30W Amplifier and Timbre & Luces Pro Int35W Amplifier considered the next generation in audio standards?

Lossless music gained popularity about 3 years ago (2013). Traditional audio amplifier testing standards of 0.1% distortion and noise is now outdated and obsolete for recording resolution and playback requirements. Our Professional and Home Amplifiers use the latest advanced technology operational amplifier (OP), Preamplifier that uses new OP devices, with very low distortion and noise levels (THD+N, f=1kHz) = 0.00001%. Our amplifiers use advanced DC Power Supplies that use high speed Schottky Barrier Diodes (SBD), with audio capacitors, producing excellent rectifying efficiency. This means our power amplifiers have an excellent Hi-Fi Audio Dynamic Response Power for speakers. Our integrated amplifiers produce clean, pure sound with virtually zero distortion at both low and high volume.

Visitors to our demonstration showroom can hear the amazing HiFi resolution of lossless music — which is noticeably different from MP3 and other lossy formats. Dr. Stanley Lipschitz of the University of Waterloo was astounded at the absence of noise and distortion in our amplifiers (0.00001%).

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REFERENCE MATERIALS:

An interview with Stanley Lipschitz of the University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada, about digital sound rate sampling and distortion:

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Audio Engineering Society Convention Paper 5395, May 2001 by Stanley P. Lipshitz and John Vandekooy, Audio Research Group, University of Waterloo, Ontario, Canada