Discrete? Class A?

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dannywild
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2004/03/26 04:12:04 (permalink)

Discrete? Class A?

I see alot of gear that uses discrete circuits and class A electronics. Do these things automatically make the gear high end? What does class A and discrete really mean?

For example, the new Presonus Eureka mic pre says it is Class A. Does this mean it is going to be a killer mic pre? Has anyone tried the Eureka yet?
#1

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    Mr. Ease
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    RE: Discrete? Class A? 2004/03/26 05:31:59 (permalink)
    There are many classes of amplifier and the class refers to the structure of the output stage. It is possible to design good and bad amplifiers of any kind. The classes other than A are generally used for power stages for audio and radio applications. There is a grey area when IC amplifiers (op-amps) are used, as they generally employ a structure similar to class B or AB but biased in class A mode. These op-amps do, in general, create a little bit of what is called crossover distortion and again some are better than others. Generally, to optimise the noise, class A discrete design is used for mic amplifiers so the claim is really no different to others who do not bother to make the claim. All valve/tube mikes and pre-amps will operate in class A.

    As always the key is to listen and see what you like!
    < Message edited by Mr. Ease -- 3/26/2004 12:28:48 PM >
    #2
    manciosax
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    RE: Discrete? Class A? 2004/03/26 07:23:56 (permalink)
    I own a Focusrite Octopre Class A preamp, it sounds good but it's not as professional as other preamp in Class A that i have.
    Go and listen!
    Bye Mancio

    www.digitallcube.com
    #3
    jho
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    RE: Discrete? Class A? 2004/03/26 12:25:52 (permalink)
    Class A refers to the use of direct and continuous power. Less ditortion, less noise, more accurate reproduction of the signal.
    #4
    jho
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    RE: Discrete? Class A? 2004/03/26 12:34:32 (permalink)
    Whoops, forgot the other part.... "Discrete" refers to the ability to selectively ignore certain metal conductivity. Discrete should really be called "discriminating".
    #5
    Mr. Ease
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    RE: Discrete? Class A? 2004/03/26 12:56:29 (permalink)
    jho,

    Is your description of discrete a joke??? What discrete means is that the amplifier is designed using seperate transistors, resistors, capacitors etc so the designer has full access to all design parameters. This is opposed to "integrated" where the designer uses integrated circuits in which the designer has no control over how the internals of the circuit work.

    If I am wrong, I've been in the wrong profession for 30 odd years!
    #6
    jho
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    RE: Discrete? Class A? 2004/03/26 13:10:21 (permalink)
    Hi Mr Ease, sorry about that, I dont wanna mislead anyone. Im just a high school kid trying learn the audio crafts from my dad who is an engineer. I just asked him and he laughed, lol. He told me I what I was talking about is called metal discrimination whereas discrete is what you said. Oh well, I better check up before posting again!
    #7
    C Hudson
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    RE: Discrete? Class A? 2004/03/26 13:12:11 (permalink)
    Gotta admit it was funny

    If electricty could talk....." and here I go up some copper wire but , oh no, it's a silver connections and not gold, I , the new programmable electricty, have been programmed to ignore silver. Guess I will pass on that union"

    Best

    CH
    #8
    RickD
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    RE: Discrete? Class A? 2004/03/26 13:14:44 (permalink)
    ORIGINAL: jho

    Whoops, forgot the other part.... "Discrete" refers to the ability to selectively ignore certain metal conductivity. Discrete should really be called "discriminating".



    ???

    I believe that the use of the word 'discrete' relative to amplifiers means separate semiconductor components (transistors, gates, diodes, etc.) rather than integrated circuits.

    For those not familiar with the technical details of electronics, an integrated circuit is a small package (usually called a 'chip') that contains a very dense layout of semiconductor components. In the case of a microprocessor, a chip may contain millions of transistors, but audio chips generally contain much less.

    A few of the advantages of integrated circuits are small size, low power, and low cost which make them ideal choices for consumer grade audio equipment. In the early days of integrated circuits, they suffered from an inferiority complex when compared with the tested and true design techniques of discrete components. After several decades of development, this distinction has virtually disappeared as modern engineering and manufacturing techniques have vastly improved the quality in all aspects of performance.

    One area where discrete components are still preferred is in high-power stages. The inherent low-power and small size of integrated circuits makes them less desirable for use in output stages in high-end audio equipment. A well-designed discrete component system should easily be able to out-perform an integrated circuit system and hence the distinction as to why discrete circuits are preferred. The disadvantage of course, is that discrete components will take up more space, consume more power and be more expensive.

    (oops - while I was composing this response the three above it were posted).
    < Message edited by RickD -- 3/26/2004 1:19:10 PM >
    #9
    wogg
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    RE: Discrete? Class A? 2004/03/26 13:26:39 (permalink)
    ORIGINAL: jho

    Class A refers to the use of direct and continuous power. Less ditortion, less noise, more accurate reproduction of the signal.


    To clarify that a bit...

    Class A amplifiers use a single...

    It's a bit too late to edit this out quietly as I have been called out by both EvilGuitarMonke and Mr. Ease... but Class A amps can use multiple devices, but in my defense they are the only type of amp that can use a single device

    ...device (transistor, FET, or tube) that operates over the entire 360 degrees of the signal (both the positive and nevative swings of a sine wave). That is what I beleive was meant by 'continuous power'. The drawback is that the device has to dissipate 1/2 (or more) it's available output power in heat all the time, which is why there are few class A power amplifiers and the ones that do exist are very low power.

    It is easier to avoid distortion with a class A design but it does not automatically make it better. Devices have areas of non-linearity (typically near the power supply rails) that must be avoided in order to do a class A design properly. It is quite possible for a properly designed class A-B amplifier to outperform a poorly designed class A amp.

    Using the term Class A is generally more marketing hype than true advantage. It's not as bad as 'digital ready' but still isn't as important to consider as you would think. But, provided it's not from a suspicously underpriced and unknown company, going class A couldn't hurt.

    For mic pre's I would go with a reputable company and judge based on your own ears and the ears of those who have used the pre-amp in question.
    < Message edited by wogg -- 3/26/2004 4:16:49 PM >

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    #10
    cAPSLOCK
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    RE: Discrete? Class A? 2004/03/26 13:51:11 (permalink)
    I think both 'discrete' and 'class a' are used to describe a escort service in the phone book.

    I don't know what got into me... Hey it's my day off.

    cAPS
    #11
    EvilGuitarMonke
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    RE: Discrete? Class A? 2004/03/26 14:01:16 (permalink)
    ORIGINAL: wogg
    While it is true that all amlifiers that employ a single device in the output stage are class A, it is also possible to have class A amplifiers that use two or more output devices, just as long as they are all conducting through 360 degrees.

    I'd also like to point out that 'Class A' is a very abused term. I own two guitar amps (an Vox AC30 and a Laney LC15R) that both claim to be class A, and neither one really is class A at full output.
    ORIGINAL: jho

    Class A refers to the use of direct and continuous power. Less ditortion, less noise, more accurate reproduction of the signal.


    To clarify that a bit...

    Class A amplifiers use a single device (transistor, FET, or tube) that operates over the entire 360 degrees of the signal (both the positive and nevative swings of a sine wave).
    #12
    Mr. Ease
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    RE: Discrete? Class A? 2004/03/26 14:11:03 (permalink)
    Wogg,

    Class A amplifiers do not necessarily just use a single "active" device. As an design engineer for over 30 years I do not agree that class A is marketing hype, rather it is a (fairly) precise description of the mode of operation commonly used by engineers. It certainly helps me to evaluate a designs aims, although as you say, that does not mean Class A = Good. In general a well designed discrete class A design should have the edge over general purpose IC op-amp designs, as the noise performance can be more carefully defined. There are however some excellent "custom" IC designs around. These normally have the disadvantage of higher cost unless you use HUGE volumes.

    I have no idea how to design a "digital ready" amplifier.
    < Message edited by Mr. Ease -- 3/26/2004 7:13:36 PM >
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