Class A\B or D for summer months (vs Class A)

What’s your budget and are you looking for new or used?

I was shooting for the $3000 price range -

Used is fine, sometimes just tough to find the exact item you may be searching for.

I have directly compared the XA25 to the AHB2 and they were quite similar in sound. The AHB2 idles at 20 watts and doesn't even get warm.

This is a case where you might like a Coda A/B which tend to run very cool, but are still linear amps.

I'm not against Class D at all, I just can't imagine going from Pass with it's own signature to any Class D amp and being thrilled.  I'll be interested in reading how your listening goes.

The Atmasphere GaN amp was designed by a foremost tube amp designer and can be found used on hifishark in your price range if you’re patient.  Best of luck. 

You shouldn’t be restricted by your imbalanced AC unit. Run any amp you want in perfect comfort.

My listening room was furthest from the AC unit and couldn’t keep cool. Installed a mini split AC unit. Runs perfectly quiet.(no, really, it’s silent) I noticed that they use the same units in PS Audio listening rooms also. I Use it like a light swtich.

You can see the mini split unit on the right wall up near the ceiling over pauls head.

I have to agree that fixing the room’s A/C. Is the duct open all the way? Can you slightly restrict airflow around the house to increase it in your listening room. Most amps add so little heat relative to the overall temperature budget in the room... walls, floor, furniture... etc.

Thanks for the time & replies.

Encouraging news on the XA25\AHB2 direct comparison. Also great to get some alternative amplifier options to pull up and review.

The room AC isn't a drastic or large comfort issue. It's just noticeable to have the heat from the amp rising from the rack as the cool air comes in from the ceiling. 

I'm sure there's a small itch to try some new gear, and I'm still evaluating the purchase heavily. The Pass amp & pre are really delivering. It's nice to test & learn, and there always seems to be some lost time and cash involved when things don't meet expectations.

@tbac23 I listen to a class D amp year round. I'd put it up against any Pass Labs amp with no worries. It replaced a set of class A tube monoblocks and I've not had any reason to look back.

But you might also consider that if your amp makes heat there's a simple way to move it out of the room without air conditioning. If you can place a vent in the ceiling above the amp, you can used dryer hose and a small fan to vent warm air out of the house. That's a lot cheaper than air conditioning. Works best if the vent is directly above the amp.

I agree with keep your amp (I'm a Pass XA owner) ands work on a/c ventilation issues, it could be rather simple...for myself, and everyone I know, Pass and Benchmark sound quite different...though some do prefer Benchmark...

@tbac23, I had in-room heating issues in the summer with my XA30.8 and swapped to the (very) cool running AtmaSphere Monos and I found the sound signature between the two amps to be very similar.  e.g. no fatigue, nice midrange centric presentation with lots of midrange texture.   The Coda S5.5 with 50w Class A runs cool compared to the XA30.8 at least and is more neutral and resolving to my ears (and way more dynamic), but is likely out of your specified price range.   I also owned an AHB2, and although I liked it, at least compared to the warm and cozy XA30.8 I didn't think it was that similar sonically.   I've never heard the XA25, but if it is less warm and more resolving than the XA30.8, then at least it would like be closer in signature to the Benchmark.   

I went through the same process with the addition of tube replacement cost and weight.  I ended up with AGD Audions. I could not be happier.  I did retain my Cary SLP 05 tube preamp.  I would consider a used pair of AGD’s or Atmosphere class D amps.   Try to here before you make a final decision. 

I have to second the notion of using the available funds to fix or supplement the AC. I had the same issue in my office where I have my headphone rig. I have several tube amps there which all give off quite a bit of heat. I would have never even considered switching to SS or something of the sort, but that's just me. In your case, I feel like you heat problem will remain even if you change amps. If you notice any difference, it likely won't be enough.

In my case, it turns out the main return was undersized for the house. I guess they didn't do the best job at calculating those 20 years ago. I added an additional small return outside my office door which is in the opposite end of the house from the main return. I also added a larger dedicated run to my office off the main duct and installed a bigger vent. If this hadn't worked, my next move was mini-split.

On the other hand, a new amp to switch things up for a few months out of the year sounds like fun too. Best of luck with whichever path you take!

You can't beat.a class A for room heating during the winter!  (Luxman, driving Forte IV's)

I hate to sound like a shill for Infigo, but they have a cool Class-A technology. Excellent sounding amplifiers and do not put out much heat.  

I went from class D to the Simaudio Moon 330A. Excellent amp, beautiful, a little more power than the ABH2, perfect footprint for my space (like the ABH2), runs cool, and if lightly used, within your price range. Paired it with the BHK pre. Perfect!

You can't beat.a class A for room heating during the winter!

@fatdaddy2 Here in Minnesota even a class A high powered triode amp has no dent on the room temperature...

I recently made a screened in porch into a family room and we installed a Mitsubishi heat pump where the compressor is still outside and the cassette with the blower and filter is in the room.  It’s kinda like a mini split, but separated into two sections.  Anyway, there is a fan setting that is amazingly quiet! Seeing as I hope to be in this home for a while, so I bucked up for the superheat feature, which mostly worked last week when we got down to 4°.

All the best.

I had a Benchmark DAC back in 2007. I found Benchmark to  be extremely clean and clear, but a bit sterile. Voices in real life never sounded as "clinical" as they did thru the Benchmark. So, the OP's concerns might be justified. I admired it, but it wouldn't be something I'd choose for listening to music, either.

If you are used to class A, it is hard to be happy with anything else.  teh marketing literature will always say that it is as good but my experience says otherwise.  Most class A/B generate very little heat, yet they claim they operate in class A up to several watts.  Draw your own conclusions. I've drawn mine. they they aren't positive.

your 99dB speakers could operate with a very low wattage amp. I have driven my 98dB speakers with a 2.3 watt decware amp with no problems.  I find that an SET tube amp generally puts very little heat into the room. I don't even have air conditioning.  The exception is the 6C33C tube that runs hot. radiated heat goes at Texp4.  The 6C33C runs about twice the temperature of a normal tube so that is 16 times the radiated heat.  

If you don't want to go tube, then there is the first watt which sould work fine. 

There are a lot of people that will tell you you need more power they fall into 2 categories.

1.  Dealers who want to sell you a more powerful amp. they want to disqualify most all SET tube amps so they say "you need at least 20 watts" or something similar. 

2.  People who repeat what the dealer told them.

Jerry

Count the number and weight of old iron radiators needed to heat a house. I'd say your amp is a tiny fraction compared to any of them. You are better of putting that money into better insulation so your heating and cooling systems don't have to work hard.

Start taking hot yoga and you won't even want AC anymore.

If I was you I’d strongly consider this Valvet Class A amp that’s well within your budget. It doesn’t run very hot due to its relatively low output power but should still have no problem at all driving your speakers. Could be the best of both worlds where you keep great Class A sound without the heat penalty, and who knows you might even end up preferring it to your Pass. Read the reviews as they’re unanimously and overwhelmingly positive. Just another option, but personally I’d be all over this.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/276836569677

Appreciative for the continued comments. I've pulled up multiple suggested items and reviewed.I would have a lot of fun ordering $50k of hardware to listen to and test - I would spend the time without complaints and keep myself busy for a long while if it were possible.The AGD line would be entertaining I'm sure.

The decision I've made that will help make sure I'm not just 'buying & trying' in a cyclical routine is that I need to seek out and hear some of these options before I make the purchase. Class A is good, sound is great. Runs warm...I'll live with that for now.

I had a Firstwatt J2 prior to the XA25 - sound was very similar. Maybe many of the Nelson Pass amps are similar... I've only heard these two. Bass control was a stand out improvement with the Pass over the Firstwatt though. I never had an issue with output or SPL - I think the Pass has more headroom but I don't push things that hard for it to matter.

your 99dB speakers could operate with a very low wattage amp. I have driven my 98dB speakers with a 2.3 watt decware amp with no problems.  I find that an SET tube amp generally puts very little heat into the room. I don't even have air conditioning.  The exception is the 6C33C tube that runs hot. radiated heat goes at Texp4.  The 6C33C runs about twice the temperature of a normal tube so that is 16 times the radiated heat.  

@carlsbad2 My speakers are 98dB and very easily driven by tubes. My class D amp is quieter by a good 10-20dB than any tube amp I've tried on them so far and has the added advantage of sounding very similar- same smoothness in the mids and highs as the best tube amps I've used, just a bit more transparent.

Time old problem and here's a solution...

Technics SU-G700M2:  $2900

Last summer I did notice the XA25 amp and my central air were battling it out a little in the listening room. The amp had no issues and runs warm regardless of season. I guess I notice it more when I'm looking to stay cool vs stay warm.

I was shooting for the $3000 price range