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.
I have AV8 Wave amps, Prima Luna integrated, Quicksilver monos, six packs, M3si, and a Parasound A21. I just ordered a Sphinx because I needed a little tube sound but not the heat or wear of power tubes. Replacing my M3si. Good to hear it might be an upgrade. I think the OP is on the right track for heat reduction, I'd pick my A21 for his system. |
@mulveling is the heat output that insufficient from Class A to say Class A/B? I'd imagine the fins on solid state amps tend to hold on to heat rather than dissipating it up into the air/surface. I use a portable air conditioner in the room in the summer, but these things are loud as all hell so I imagined a slower heat rafitijg amp for summer would help alleviate heat and cold fighting for space in the summer months.
@tablejockey I love my Primaluna amps, I'm more curious to try something new and have been looking at more Allnic gear after just acquiring their H-5200 Phono. Then I got to thinking about more tubes and more heat which got me thinking of going to try solid state. My room is an upstairs southwest facing, 9x15 box that the sun bakes all day long. House AC doesn't work, and as a renter we've been forced to compromise with portable AC units in every room. |
just my 2 cents i would say, qualitatively, that if comparing to running my audio research ref 110 tube amp (8x kt120), if we call the heat output from that amp a '10' a decent powered solid state class a amp - say pass xa25, first watt f5, belles sa30, pair of schiit aegirs would have heat output of say, a '6' whereas a higher powered class a/b amp like hegel h20 would be a '3' and then, the agd audion monos would be a '1' |
