Digital Amplifier Questions

I mean class d, which I thought was some type of digital amp...I just briefly read about that lastnight. I'm going to go read up for a minute and see if I can get this...

Ok, now I remember why I can't get this...

Can someone dumb it down for me as far as Class A, Class A/B, Class D?

I really only know that Class A amps are usually lower wattage, inefficient (whatever that means aside from drawing more electricity from the outlet...), run hot, but sound good (right?).

Class A/B is some type of dual mode where it runs in Class A for the first few watts then switches to Class B? Now this doesn't really make any sense to me. Wouldn't the transition be audible?

Then Class D... some type of switching amp, where it switches on and off? This makes no sense to me either. And why the heck did I think it was a Digital amp?

Anyhow, when I go to research what a Class D amp is, or any amp/preamp/dac/electronics, my research instantly turns into me looking up 15 words in the first paragraph which leads me to look up 100 more words, trying to wrap my head around it all, then steam comes out my ears and I start twitching.

I'd like to have a better understanding of all this so maybe someone can describe it in layman's terms?

PS, Thanks Mapman for your input. I've noticed you've been raving about your Belcantos for awhile now, not quite as much as ohms, but close! Good to see you enjoying the setup

Guidocorona,
Have you had any experience with the Peachtree 220? If not, maybe you could pull up the specs and let me know what you think?

Mapman, Guidocorona, Timlub and Xti, thank you all for your helpful and informative posts! I appreciate it and hopefully others will benefit from this also.

Ps, Mapman, I researched Bel Canto last night and a pair of the Ref500m monoblocks and a Dac 3.7 or Dac 2.7 looks like that be an awesome system. You've got me interested in Bel Canto now :)
There's also a pair of Ohm Walsh 4's for sale local to me; if I had the $ for them I'd go listen to them.

Hi Bcgator! I have been enjoying the Nova pre/220 combo. It sounds pretty good but I still prefer my last setup (Classe CA-200, Paradound Z Dac, Lightspeed attenuator) more. The Volume control on the Lightspeed was way better, especially at low volumes.

I haven't heard a difference really with power cords on the Peachtree gear either, that's partly why I asked that question. I could definitely hear a difference when I upgraded my power cords on my last set up so I was wondering if it was because the Class D amps draw less current.

Anyhow, thanks again to everyone who's responded! I appreciate it.

Not of real importance, but Jeff Rowland gear is absolutely beautiful. I saw his gear at RMAF a few years back and if I remember correctly, the chassis is machined out of solid billets of aircraft aluminum. Jeff also lives in the same city as I do, probably less than 20 minutes away from me... maybe someday I will be able to afford some of his gear :)