Solid State Low powered Amplifiers


My quest is to find a SS low powered amplifier to use in the Summer months, in place of Tube and Class A amplification … I have Klipsch Cornwall 4s and limited AC in my hot TN listening room for 4-5 months. I know it will be hard to match the sound I get from tube and Class A …on a solid-state amp and I am wondering if I’m looking in the right place for a “10 W per channel” solid-state amplifier which I don’t even know if they make. The Cornwall speakers are 102 DB sensitivity.

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I bought a Gjallarhorn about eight months ago to replace the LSA VT-70 tube amp (EL34 tubes) that I was using to drive a pair of small Spendor 4/5 speakers in a sunroom.  The Spendors (their current incarnation of the classic LS 3/5a speakers) are not terribly sensitive (84 dB) but the Gjallorhorn is great with them.  The loudest I listen is around 80 dB to maybe 85dB average and the Gjallarhorn coasts along with zero problems -- there is no sonic hint of running out of power. The Gjallarhorn is easily the equal of the VT-70 in the mids and highs, and I like the bass better (though obviously one is not going very deep with these speakers.)

Note the amp is AB, not class D, but uses Schiit's "continuity" design to improve linearity. Whatever it is, it works, and works well. I've also never found the case to get anything more than pleasantly warm while playing.

So, another vote for the Schiit Gjallarhorn. At $300 it seems like a slam dunk for an audition.

Here’s a wonderful amp — it’s Class A but as it’s on the smaller side and only puts out 12Wpc it won’t act like a space heater and deliver the sonic goods…

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650057786-valvet-e3-stereo-single-ended-amplifier/
 

This AVA amp would also be worth a look…

https://avahifi.com/products/vision-set-120-power-amplifier

Hope this helps, and best of luck.

Get either a Harman Kardon 300b or 300c receiver and have it recapped.  20 wpc of really exceptional sound quality. Great vintage looks, to boot!

If your preamp has a low gain setting, it may broaden the amplifier options greatly. 

What is the concern of running a class A Amp in summer? I fail to understand. I've had mine for 5 years, I have central air, I do not see or feel a difference. See meaning significant added cost to cool. It is a miniscule amount of heat when compared to the overall volume of an average room. Unless your sitting on the thing I don't see why the worry.