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AR DS 450 efficiency at what sonic price?

Has anyone heard Audio Research's DS450? I am attracted to lots of power out with little consumption and resultant cool running, especially now that the local utility company has instituted two-tiered pricing designed to punish electrical use... Could I be satisfied with a more efficient amp or should I just get rid of the refrigerator and keep the tubes?
77jovian
6550c
393 posts
 
ARC = Audio Research Corp.
AR = Acoustic Research (defunct speaker company)
auxetophone
114 posts
 
Well, ARC VT100iii for example, idles at 440 watts. So if you pay $.15/kW Hr (on the high side), and run 4 hours/day every day, you'll pay $100/year for direct costs. If you have to run the AC to cool your room 1/3 of the year, make it $110.

If you run the DS450 24/7 like you probably would, it would cost $65 per year.

It might take a while for this amp to pay for itself :)
77jovian OP
409 posts
 
Good points...I think I'll keep the tubes and vote accordingly.
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