To Hot to Handle?


I have been contemplating the purchase of a tube amp. However, one of my concerns is the possible heat issues associated with running a tube amp (or mono blocs) with 12+ tubes during the summer in the Northeast. I do not have central air in my apartment.

Would it really be unbearable? I would appreciate comments from anyone with such experiences/solutions. Or, are there any 75+ watt tube amps in the under $2500 new/used category that don't run hot?

Thank you in advance,
mattybumpkin
If the amplifier is not class A, the heat of the tubes will be minimal. You might be suprised how much heat a transistor amp can make too- sometimes not really a lot less then a tube amp. A lot is depending on how you play the system and the class of operation.

My guess is heat is not a factor here. It gets hotter here in the Midwest then in the Northeast. I have the smallest air conditioner I could find ($75 special from Best Buy- it was either that or rewire the house for something bigger and I am too lazy for that) in my listening room and it keeps up with 28 power tubes (it can be switched from class A to class AB). My guess is you have no worries.
Thank you everyone for your comments.

I think I am jumping into tubes!!! Heat be damned.

We'll see if I say the same thing come August.

Regards,

Matty
Now ye'r cookin' with tubes brother Bumpkin! I like my burgers medium rare please. A little heat never hurt anyone'eh. Set up some industrial sewing machines in your place, hire some imigrant children and maybe Nike'll give you some work assembling their shoes and athletic wear! Come next February you can finally validate your manhood in a ceremony similar to Qwai Chang Caine. Kneeling before the Cary Rocket (which you've kept piping hot for three days straight playing Swervedriver at 110db) with rolled up sleeves you'll grasp the amp by the tubes between your forearms and move it to your new amp stand ignoring your searing flesh. Then you'll stagger out into the freshly fallen snow and collapse, cooling your still sizzling brands. When they heal up, and that nasty infection goes away you will have the mark of a true audiophile and it will be time for you to leave.....as soon as you snatch those Shakti stones from my hand. After that you can wander from high-end boutique to high-end boutique seeking revenge upon the ones who sold you all that wretched SS gear. Oh, I pity those poor salepeople, they haven't got a chance when you ferrit them out of their holes in the ground! Let's all just have a moment of silence in anticipation of the hurtin' Bumpkin will be bringing on those folks in the industry! May god have mercy on them when they meet their maker and are told of the grave errors in their ways. They steered you wrong Bumpkin, you have no choice, it was malicious and cruel....they knew better and yet they sold you boat anchors and paper weights and took all your nickel while they all laughed inside. Ah Matty...they'll be telling stories to our children's children about you someday. How you helped rid the world of the evil purveyors of SS instruments of aural torture, and cleared a path for a rebirth of the wonders of the vacuum tube. I don't have any children Matty, but I'll tell my dog and hope he'll pass it on to the canine world. You're my hero Matty. I'm getting some tears in my eyes as I write this, and my upper lip is starting to quiver a bit. Excuse me while I have a breakdown over here in the corner. Just carry on my friend....make us all proud.

Marco
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Well,

I have already done the dirty deeed. I bought a pair of AES Six Pacs tonight from Kevin at Upscale Audio, with the Jensen cap upgrade. While only 50 watts, they have a great amount of reserve I am told.

So, we will see what it is like to have a BBQ inside.

Marco, I think you have been too close to tubes for too long, you wing nut. You in the Northeast? If so, give me a yell, I will buy a couple rounds, nice cool beer to calm the senses.

Thank you all,