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Tube Amps and young children - avoiding burns etc.

I would like to purchase a tube amp (either a stereo amp or monoblocks) but am afraid that my young daughter will want to touch the tubes through natural inquisativeness and will burn herself. (Young flesh burns easier than adult fresh apparently.) Then there's a good chance that her hands will be sticky/dirty and touching the tube (either hot or cold) will leave a residue that isn't conducive to proper tube performance . . .

Do you know of tube brands & models that are covered by some sort of cage, assuming that touching the cage won't burn her but touching the tubes might? The only brands that come to my mind are: VTL, Wolcott, and C-J. Are there others that I've missed and should audition/consider? I expect to purchase either stand mounted monitors or electrostatic speakers so SET amps probably won't apply and because my room is 40ft * 15ft will probably need 100 - 150watts/channel I've been told by Martin Logan head office.

I will be putting the amp in a large wooden armoir on the bottom shelf (hence accessable to small children) and will need to keep the doors open to allow for ventilation as the other 3 sides are wood (of course). The bottom shelf has about 2.5ft of clearance.

So, if you are a tube amp owner and parent of young children, please share with me your tricks at keeping them safe while allowing you the pleasures of tube sound.

Thanks for your thoughts.
kevinzoe
s23chang
619 posts
 
I put my large tube amp behind my DIY see through cabinet doors.
Never had single issue with 2 kids. I put 2 latches behind the door to lock it. I think is a matter of how you want to put you amp in a safe place and look nice
unsound
7,329 posts
 
Perhaps a remote power switch might help.
semi
649 posts
 
Jadis and Sonic Frontiers (out of business) both offer tube cages. I have BAT VK-75SE and thinking of building tube cages for it to prevent my twin toddlers getting burned. I can train them, but price to pay for little "accident" is way too high and I rather spend the money to avoid it.
dekay's avatar
dekay
5,555 posts
 
No kids left @ home, but with 6 cats I placed the electronics in a hall closet located directly behind the speaker wall. Prior to this I housed a SS amp behind the sliding doors of a Tansu cabinet in the living room (the cabinet is not large enough to hold my tube gear).

I would never place HIGH CURRENT gear (tube or otherwise) around kids/pets. Other than the heat (cases/cages can also get quite hot) it would take but a spilled beverage to cause injury or worse (the cats have liquid liablilities other than that of spilling drinks:-).

I'd look for another location and/or cabinet.

I picked up a nice old pie safe a year ago to hold a second spare room system. It's still in storage as I have not gotten around to cleaning out the room.

I've seen systems installed in all kinds of nice closed cabinets (wardrobes, antique bars, etc.). I almost bought an antique Victrola in a full deco cabinet once, but did not have the heart to gut it for my purpose (the dealer could not give it away @ the local flea and offered it for $75).
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