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Amplifier heat...help!

Hi all, 

Working on a system for a small 9 by 11 listening room.   I have narrowed it down to two small speakers: Falcon Acoustics Ls3/5a (15 ohm, 83 db) or the Airtight AL-05, also called Bonsai II (4 ohm 89 fb).

Tha amplifier will go in a cabinet.  I have about 14 inches between shelves and I always play music with the doors open.  I would love to use a tube amplifier but worry about heat.  So I am wondering if readers think something like a Line Magnetic 211ia could work in this configuration, or if it produces too much heat?   I have also been thinking about the tube -like  solid state Sugden A21Se, but have a similar question about its temperature.   Another cool (literally cool) option would be the Vinnie Rossi LIO, an amp I love but that is conisiderably more money.

Are there other options for relatively  compact tube amps (i.e.: . I have 17 inches of depth inside this cabinet including power cords so unit cannot be more than 14 inches deep) that do not produce a lot of heat (relatively speaking?).  Or is there really no tube amp that would work well in this scenario?

thanks!
mcanaday

Showing 5 responses by noromance

noromance's avatar
noromance
10,057 posts
 
Have you thought about putting in a sliding tray that could be used to pull the amp out of the cabinet when in use?
Your speakers are pretty inefficient to drive so will not go very loud with low-powered amps. Octals are the larger tubes like EL34/KT120 etc.
noromance's avatar
noromance
10,057 posts
 
Tube amps have been in stuffed into cabinets for decades. However they tend to use small power tubes like EL84s. As long as you have thru ventilation and a small amp you should be okay. Perhaps use a small fan mounted at the back. There are server rack fans with built-in thermostats. If it's a large octal amp, I would not advise you to put atube amp in a cabinet.
noromance's avatar
noromance
10,057 posts
 
If you get the amp in free air, you can use whatever you prefer. Both your speakers choices require some thought. The 3/5 need a 15ohm tap on the amp...not that common. The Bonsai need a 4 ohm. Both need a decent amount of watts if you want to go loud although the Bonsai should be okay. Also they may not sound their best in a small room if they are up against the wall rather than well away from walls.
noromance's avatar
noromance
10,057 posts
 
Let us know how it turns out!
noromance's avatar
noromance
10,057 posts
 
I had a mother in law who drank a half bottle of whisky a day and smoked a pack a day. Lived to be 87. Invoking the exception to a rule that hard liqor and smoking are bad for your health would not make sense. Best to adhere to best practice. Lots of heat in an enclosed space is not a good idea either for the electronics or the building.
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