Harman Kardon CITATION 16A Owners Manual - Page 3

Citation 16 r7 3 C) O 0 IMM HEM ZEM WM L ,- -j_=1 1 Crossover distortion (enlarged) Citation 16 (series A) L 0.1 watt output Crossover Distortion Most transistor power amplifiers are designed for class AB operation. They operate in class A until approximately 0.1 watt output and in class B at higher power levels. Class B is an efficient mode of operation, but a form of distortion called crossover or "notch" distortion occurs at the point where class A operation ends and class B commences. Crossover distortion has been identified as a prime cause of harshness in the sound of transistor amplifiers. In the Citation 16 (series A) the transition between class A and class B operation takes place at 2.5 watts17dB below full output. Extending class A operation greatly reduces audible crossover distortion. NOM WWI UM EREM IMM tr,=1 f. 1J E.7;;I:2 =1 [Li 2.5 watts output uoReJedo v sseio papualx M WM MM WM MM WW WM l MM WM II= No crossover distortion