2. amps-preamps
  3. 160975-976

Are there any tube amps that don't give off any---

HEAT!! 
I have a very small dedicated listening room, and so I was wondering IF there are any tube amps..I guess hybrid or all tube ( although more all tube)- that simply give off NO heat or very very little heat after full warm up. Since the climate seems to be getting hotter, it would be nice to have the benefits of a tube amp with no heat whatsoever. ( is this even possible?). 
Running AC isn't my preferred way of listening in a small room, so this question is now on my mind. I do not want to consider Class D solid state amps...as I know they are an option from a heat perspective...but just tubes.
128x128daveyf
pinthrift
209 posts
 
Hi daveyf...

You didn't address power requirements and such.  I am extremely happy with my newly purchased Music Reference RM-10 MK II used in my tiny dedicated studio.  It sports 4 small EL84 power tubes that produce a healthy 35W per channel.  If curious, you can see recent posts for details.  Best, Pin  
pcrhkr's avatar
pcrhkr
276 posts
 
I have heard a Shiit Saga preamp with a solid state tube. I could not tell any difference in sound as opposed to a regular glass tube. It ran warm, but not hot. For power amps, I am not sure if solid state tubes exist? It sounded really nice.
daveyf's avatar
daveyf OP
2,874 posts
 
In my room, even an amp that puts out just a little heat, over time heats up the room considerably. I already own a couple of amps that put out just a little heat ( one a ss amp, one a tube amp). I also have AC, and in the summer, this is required. The AC runs fairly quietly, but one can still hear it..again due to the size of the room.
My OP was really more about an amp that runs totally cool, vs. one that runs a little warm. ( many tube amps run a little warm --and a few monsters act like space heaters!).
jond's avatar
jond
5,841 posts
 
@daveyf If you don't want to give up your Jadis amps you can use them with 6ca7/El34 tubes which will give off considerably less heat than the KT150's you're currently running.


If however you want a totally cool running amp Class A/B SS would be the route to go are you considering a seasonal amp rotation with the Jadis?
daveyf's avatar
daveyf OP
2,874 posts
 
@jond  I actually do a seasonal amp rotation, the tube amps for the winter and mostly the ss amp for the summer. Even so, the ss amp heats the room enough within about 1.5 hours that it is time for the AC. 
Swapping out the KT150's for El34's may be an option. The big KT150's do give off some heat. I cannot imagine an amp with 24 of them or more...like the ARC Ref 750 or the upcoming newer version...Total heat engine!
More to discover