Basic Amp Questions


I am considering trying a tube amp to bi-amp and drive the upper unit of a von schweikert VR4JR. I am using a Sunfire 200W receiver and will drive the lower unit with it. Here are my basic questions:

1. What is balanced vs. unbalanced inputs?
2. Do I need to be able to adjust the output level on the amp itself to match or synch with the other amp? I notice that the MC275 has a left and right gain.
3. I have seen 12v triggers to turn on SS amps, is this a feature that can be found on tubes or do you always have to manually turn it on/off?
4. How much heat is generated by a tube amp?
5. What do the class designation represent, e.g. a Class A or class A/B amp?
6. How big an amp should I be looking for?
7. Any amp suggestions would be appreciated (budget $1.5K-$2K.
maineiac
first, you will have some trouble matching a tube amp with something that puts out 200W. Most of the strongest amps can only go as high as 100W. This would not, in itself would not be too much of a problem as you won't be using the full 200W, but then you will be dealing with 'gain' issues. When you turn your pre up, say 25%, your SS amp will be running at around 50W while your tube amp will be pushing less. I am currently bi-amping some miss-matched tube amps where I am running one amp that is rated at 100W to my bass and 50W to mids and highs. It sorta works.

Balanced and unbalanced has to to with a crtain kind of circuits. I would suggest you do a discussion forum search on 'unbalanced' and you will finds lots of reading. Do note, however that while many amps have both balanced and unbalanced inputs, these amps are not truly balanced and they convert the signal to unbalanced before amplification so, even though you have the inputs, this can be misleading. I am unfamiliar with your amp.

Most tube amps are manually turned on and off. The only exception I know of is McIntosh.

Heat. My two amps can heat a whole corner of my living room. I suppose I should invent some kind of a coffee-warmer platform, market it and get rich and buy an even bigger amp.

Class A and A/B is another whole round of discussions. Try another discussion fourm on 'class'