There is always some confusion in unusual multiple tube designs as to whether they are single ended or push - pull designs. However it is not a single ended design, it is a push - pull design. We have shown that the totem pole design can be made from two single ended stages. Shown below is the evolution from a single ended output stage to the totem pole design. Most of the early solid state amplifiers used this configuration, some even stacked 4 stages on top of each other in an attempt to make up for the low breakdown voltage of the early transistors.
Named for the fact that single ended stages are stacked on top of each other in “totem pole” fashion.
