Regarding cost of amps, liquid cooling, and wattage.
I don’t think it is as simple as a linear equation with cost directly proportionate to wattage. There’s more to an amp then maximal wattage output.
Cooling an amp is an issue. Pass amps are no doubt great but can be huge w all the heat sinks and do run hot. There may be a number of reasons he chose liquid cooling but one advantage is keeping size down and avoiding noise of fans or bulk of heat sinks. It may also afford other proprietary tech and design choices we are not privy too that might generate more heat than other amp designs. It could just be a gimmick, but that has not been Vandersteen’s MO — very against his design principles.
About 10 years ago I learned a lot about liquid cooling for computers and server centers and even military tech. It has some cool applications and can cool far better and faster than other techniques. So who knows- but it is unlikely to be a gimmick.
I don’t think it is as simple as a linear equation with cost directly proportionate to wattage. There’s more to an amp then maximal wattage output.
Cooling an amp is an issue. Pass amps are no doubt great but can be huge w all the heat sinks and do run hot. There may be a number of reasons he chose liquid cooling but one advantage is keeping size down and avoiding noise of fans or bulk of heat sinks. It may also afford other proprietary tech and design choices we are not privy too that might generate more heat than other amp designs. It could just be a gimmick, but that has not been Vandersteen’s MO — very against his design principles.
About 10 years ago I learned a lot about liquid cooling for computers and server centers and even military tech. It has some cool applications and can cool far better and faster than other techniques. So who knows- but it is unlikely to be a gimmick.