Different amplifier class for different music genres?


I was reading a review of the Gryphon Antileon Evo in another forum and one user was saying that in the High bias mode the amplifier was excellent for classical music but not so good for metal or hard rock, perhaps softening the transients. For metal or hard rock he preferred the Low bias mode and he suggested that the Gryphon Diablo will be more suitable for this type of music (of course one is a final amp, the other an integrated one).

So the question is: does the class of the amplifier matter or better suit the type of music you are listening to? 

I have never owned a class A amplifier and I am itching to try some. I am currently using Hypex based diy monos driving Vienna Acoustics Mahler speakers.

greg_f
I have a Cambridge Audio Azul 851 A Intergrated it’s there own type I guess. A/b technically. I like it fine. Best amp I owned. However I been infacturated lately with Jeff Rowland but I’d only be able to afford one of his type D like a 525. ( Dream would be a 625- A/b) My question is would I’d be downgrading going to the JR-525 even though it’s considered high end?
OP, ask a sincere question, this forum will often give you lame dismissals from glib fools.  
Class of amp is not particularly relevant, in my experience. Lots of other variables that are more specific, but also resist easy generalization.  But I just found a heavy metal match made in heaven.  For example, I put silver interconnects in on Friday for the first time, and combined with my ultra-fast and clean nagra psa solid state amp, I reconnected with TOOLs latest album with crazy fast transients and precise treble in a new way.  Some of the warmth I like with my piano trio jazz music is missing, though.  


@redwoodaudio That sounds like what happened to me with Iron Maiden’s self titled album from 1980. I could not believe how fast that was on my RAAL SR1a headphones (with silver headphone cable) and a new combination of 2 channel gear.

I will give TOOL latest a spin tonight. I have not heard it for long time and especially with the new combo of gear I used.

OP, ask a sincere question, this forum will often give you lame dismissals from glib fools.

Lincoln had a good quote for these characters.
Better to remain silent and be thought a fool than to speak out and remove all doubt.

The way it works is this, and it’s written in stone by the world’s most renowned amplifier designers:

Mixed music genres: Class AB (mixed class amp)

Single music genre: Class A (it’s pure)

Digital sources, syntho-pop, rap/hip-hop, computer generated artificial music: 
Class D (keep it all digital)

All genres pre-1965: Tube amps (keep tube sources in the tube house)

Its all very simple. So many in here have it all so screwed up!
Different amps for different music would be a real waste. One appropriate amp is all that should ever be required.

But it is probably useful to look at this a level higher. You can pretty easily accidentally put your system together which favors certain kinds of music. If you use say three CDs when auditioning equipment (or streamed tunes). Optimizing on those can send you in a direction to sub optimize others. It’s a system, so the speakers, amp, preamp, all effect the outcome. I loved the ethereal sound of some electronics CDs and had used them as test disks about 30 years ago and it had taken me off in a planar direction. Made several decisions that optimized these, but really sub optimized classical and rock. Which made me buy massive ss amps to power them. I started attending all acoustic classical music concerts regularly. I immediately, although completely unconsciously changed course and over ten years completely revamped my systems. Now all music types sound simply spectacular. 

So you need compatible components that support each other… so you don’t have to swap out a component for particular music types. You could easily end up with two or three separate systems. But you also have to tune the whole system to the sound you value. I think the safest bet is true fidelity. I realized the importance for this when I started attending the symphony. I found that the symphony provides an actual empirical ruler to judge actual system fidelity. The symphony provides sound levels from the very quietest to the maximum volume, every variety of instrument, in solo and en mass, un-amplified, unmastered. Live acoustic jazz also helps. But amplified electronic, rock, etc. are subject to amplification live so are not good for a reference. With this as a reference you have a target… and all music types will rise in quality as your system improves. You will still have cuts to audition, but if behind it all you have a real absolute ruler, you have a guiding light.

Just some thoughts about how to aim at system design.