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Selling off Tubes for Solid State, A Cooler Love Story?

I've always sought out Primaluna gear as my end all be all gear. I started with an integrated, then went to separates and have been very, very happy. What has given me such good sound, is also causing the room temperature to be somewhat annoying. Being in a little shoe box room of 10x15, I've had to result to opening a window, which is becoming tiresome. 

The heat from just the KT88's is causing me to considering going solid state, which will be in preparation for the Summer in my tiny upstairs room. I'd like to possibly get a second amp for the summer months, but am not sure where to start with solid state amps. Do I pick up a BHK? Do I go all in on a used Ypsilon or Dartzeel? What did you look for in a solid state amp and where should I look? I BHK I could test drive at home, but a used Ypsilon I wouldn't able able to try and would just have to pull the trigger. Any advice or guidance is appreciated. 

128x128j-wall
rar1's avatar
rar1
1,770 posts
 

Some random observations,

 

1) your choice of amplifier, especially if you are considering a class D amp, will be very speaker dependent.  In my case, I was driving a pair of Opera Platea's with a Prima Luna Prologue 5 (primary system) and tried a Class D Audio CDA 250 and thought they paired very well.  The Class D sounded like schiit though with every other speaker that I had in other systems.   

2) I am curious how much heat your KT 88's (do you run 4 or 8 of them, btw) could be throwing out.  I have never felt this way with my PL5.  Granted it is not a near field or desktop set-up.   

3) Hard to replicate the PL/ tube sound if you are happy with it without using tubes. I have in use and/ or have used the Outlaw RR2150, Rega Brio, & Musical Fidelity M3 amplifiers and they were not as satisfying.  I am using a Rogue Sphinx now in a secondary system (Golden Ear BRX speakers) and it is pretty good, but I enjoy my PL5 more (Zu Audio Dirty Weekenders speakers).

I would stay with my PL gear.  If I were to try a different tube amp, I would consider Raven audio.  

Rich 

 

 

j-wall's avatar
j-wall OP
369 posts
 

@jjss49 this is exactly where I am at. Tubes are so fun, but on the power side of things the heat it generates is becoming too much. I would definitely keep my tubes if I wasn't in an upstairs room that gets sun all day. 

 

@yogiboy I'll check out the Van Alstine 👍🏻

charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 

@roxy54,

"Sounds like you've graduated from the Primaluna budget."

I thought the same, very different market segment (Even at used pricing). Ypsilon and Dartzeel are both very fine solid state options.

Charles

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gochurchgo
920 posts
 

Dartzeel and send me your PL gear. I'll end you a label in 15 mins.

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