"Can You Lift Yours?"

Krell amps 683 lbs each ..

No friends will help you here... 😊

 

*Ah*  A 'phile product I've just 'demented' for all us pre- and current 'boomers' that can't cope 'n carry mono monsters no'mo....

"Is it time to trade up/down that mega mono amp?  Or are you just curious as to what may have lurked beneath it, soaking up that clean SET heat?

Wonder no longer, with the AmpUpper. (reg.trade mark pend.)

(Soft focus pic of a 4 castered cart that looks like a micro-forklift...)

See you @ Kickstarter....;)

The amp's form factor is absolutely a big deal. My VAC 200iQs weigh 100 lbs each and it's just a box with absolutely no handles or grips. The distribution is very front loaded, where the transformers are. For proper front-to-back balance you have to slide your hands under just the RIGHT location a few inches back from the faceplate, or it will try to tip out of your hands and you're about to have a real bad time.

By comparison the Rogue Apollo is the exact same 100 lbs per side, but its chassis has built-in handles, and it's a more balanced distribution, and this effectively makes it "seem" around 30% lighter (or so). Fortunately tube amps don't have sharp heatsinks, but that could be a nightmare on some amps. My Phison A2.120 has very sharp edges but it's only ~ 50 lbs so not an issue. 

My VAC 300iQ monos at least have some chassis structure (rails) that can be used as handles but I haven't tried to move them myself. 100lbs is my "safe limit" for just myself.

I highly recommend IronClad's Command Grip  work gloves for moving heavy audio components.

@mulveling ... 

The amp's form factor is absolutely a big deal. 

Well, yuh....but ones' personal form factor remains the bottom line, esp. when the hands hit the chassis...  Unless your posted pic is a file photo from youth gone by, you've got a built-in 'cheat'. *mock grumble*  And it's vaguely reassuring that the 300s' pose a challenge to you, Commanding Grips notwithstanding.... ;)

Amps and speakers are the bane of most 'philes...those who gravitate to tubed power and large drivers risk damage of varied forms when age is an issue we can't ignore no more.  I'm only half kidding about a lightweight platform on wheels that could extract, lower/move/raise. and deliver the goods to the new space....

As for mahgs' Krells....the 'light industrial' variant would have to be 'beefy' (and no carpeted floors, nooo....). *L*

"Are you available on an 'on-call' basis?" 😏  (He prays i'm kidding....)

My latest and first solid state in 15 years weighs 11 pounds....   It sounds pretty amazing considering it is the size of a shoebox. 

One turntable weighs 122 lbs without the platter, another 105 lbs. I have two SS stereo amps that weigh around 90 lbs each and a 300b amp that’s close to 9 lbs a watt. At this point I’m still able to wrangle them all, but the day will come in the not-too-distant future when this will no longer be true, and I rue that day.

Anything weighing less than 50lbs isn't worth listening to, IMO.

elliottbnewcombjr, thank you for the Stewart Hegeman link.

I’ve always wanted to hear his bass cabinet solution or the Shahinian-licensed version.

I picked up a speaker the wrong way, felt a jolt of electricity in my back, involuntarily screamed in pain, but refused to drop the speaker.

I managed to hobble a few steps towards the bed and at the expense of great pain on top of great pain, threw the speaker so that it landed safely on the pillow.

Couldn’t walk for a week, took a month to recover.

For a few years now I’ve been searching for a pair of IMF RSPM MkIV or the much rarer IMF SAMC at a 105 lbs per speaker.

They’ll certainly have to reside on dollies.

my old Soundcraftsman amp weighs a lot. Haven't lifted it onto a scale. But maybe after a nap.....

I'm in the process of moving, so I feel your pain.

I tweaked my back, but decided to continue moving my stereo equipment. 

Bad idea.

My amp weighs about 85 lbs and it nearly killed me moving it up a flight of steps.

Speakers are about 80lbs each and my sub is over 100lbs. These I got help on.

No fun.

Well, yuh....but ones' personal form factor remains the bottom line, esp. when the hands hit the chassis...  Unless your posted pic is a file photo from youth gone by, you've got a built-in 'cheat'. *mock grumble*  And it's vaguely reassuring that the 300s' pose a challenge to you, Commanding Grips notwithstanding.... ;)

@asvjerry I look like I can lift more but lower back has increasingly become a weak point. I know lift with the legs, keep back straight etc, but all it takes is one absent minded moment and I get a week of back pain & hobbling :(

Also my grip is a relative weakness (hence the gloves). Alas, the "gym bro" thing was fun for a while but I was not made to lift big #s. In my 40s now I've decided to give up the gym for swimming laps. 

Take care of your backs, guys!

When i was young i worked at the post office...

We learned how to lift heavy weight securing our back... I never loose the habit...😊

I had my new Cyrus i7XR in my main room the last week or so and it sounded great with my Forte IV and Heresy…  It sounded even better with a pair of Sonus Faber Concerto.   I am impressed how this little integrated amp sounds. 
 

It’s for a bedroom system and it sounds way better than expected.  It’s been 90* plus here so I’ve been giving my tube amps a rest.   In my main system it really acted like a much “bigger” amp.  So clear and detailed for 40 watts.    Can drive 85 dB sens speakers plenty loud while maintaining composure.   I should have my Omega Super Alnico in a few weeks to pair with this amp 

I like big amps and I can not lie , but I’m running out of room. 

I've downsized quite a bit in recent years.   Everything sounds great and very easy to deal with.   I still have big old Ohm F5s that probably weigh about 100 pounds each but those are on castors so easy to move as needed.  The top mounted drivers are also easily detachable if needed.

Get THEE Efficient Speakers (horns, big, might need help moving them).

Then sell the heavy amps, get less powerful amps the efficient speakers allow.

Heavy amps should come with a CrossFit membership 😂. 

It’s attached but can be lifted. 😉

I use twin mono amps in one system that weigh in at over 100 lbs. and a single stereo amp in another system that is just under 150 lbs. but all that sounds light compared to some of you!

https://youtu.be/IeXMKygwSco

 

'Back from The Shadows again....'

Posting issue....had to verify my existence....

"It's those dam AI again...."

...anyway.....

@tony1954 ....😏....now, imagine these Yorkies dragging a heavyweight audio system with them....

"...had my entire Mac collection on a rubber raft when a freak wave hit, all went to the bottom, 20K leagues....dove down to rescue, my head exploded comin' back up....dam' fish ate my brain...

(...and nobody noticed any changes....) ...True, that...."

*commercial tyme*

Something not to be ignored....

....since once obtained, you can't delete it.....😬

@mapman ...and, once lifted, needs to find a place to land....and quickly.... ;)

LOOK!

A pillow....just as the Pain spikes....toss driver....

...and it bounces on pillow...onto the floor....

"I want to die, now...."

(They came, took him away, with the ragged cone on his head....)

@mahgister Those look menacingly heavy just sitting there!!

This has been interesting, more responses than I anticipated.

NOW, let’s reassess.

i.e. Camera World, Sony 1" Sensor Line: rx100’s; RX1’s; especially RX10m4

Many, Many Old Dogs, Aging Baby Boomers grew tired of lugging DSLR’s, and a Kit of Lenses, and found the IQ of these 1" sensors good enough to leave/sell the heavy stuff home most if not all of the time.

https://www.pcmag.com/picks/sony-rx100-buying-guide-which-high-end-compact-camera-is-right-for-you

https://www.sony.com/za/electronics/cyber-shot-compact-cameras/dsc-rx1rm2

https://www.sony.com/za/electronics/cyber-shot-compact-cameras/dsc-rx10m4

.............................................

Regarding these Monster Amps: how many think they engaged in Overkill? Changed to smaller speakers, now they are overkill? IOW, could smaller lighter amps/speakers satisfy you old dogs these days?

Bigger amps need bigger power protection so those could be reduced also?

...................................

Me: "I ain’t Changing Nothin’. ******

I will NEVER get rid of my big speakers (over 100lbs) in my main system, they are on 3 dual wheel casters for altering toe-in, moving out of the way a bit or a lot. Get a friend to help lay them on their face for annual back removal to check/tighten woofer, and check the horns (never loose, but gotta check em.

Amp, Preamp, SACD, Furman, SUT all manageable.

3 Arm TT is big and darn heavy, need a friend to move it.

R2R is now over the limit rarely moved, these days I’ll ask for help.

Office System; Garage Shop System, all manageable, except the Yamaha Receiver is large and heavy and in awkward/dangerous high position, so help with it would be wise. I just liked it’s design and specs, didn’t think about it’s weight. AR-2ax speakers just manageable, the wifey can help me with them.

************************ "I ain’t SIGNING nothin!"...........................

Saw Ray Davies in a small club on his own. My memory of his story: "The Kinks, playing stadiums, couldn’t hear their own music, and for fun they started loudly shouting curse words to each other, especially Dave Davies".

Waiting to go on the Ed Sullivan show, Ray negotiating with the portly head of NYC musicians union was signing .. whatever they made all musicians sign before performing,

Then someone goes to the lounge, tells Dave to sign here. Dave says something like " Fuucck Off, I ain’t Signing Nothin".

They were banned and did not play in USA for (I thought he said 10 years)

............

This story says 4 years, I found, but did not read it, I prefer Ray's version.

https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/the-kinks-ray-davies-banned-from-usa-america/

.

 

 

Every time I have to extract my butt heavy Primaluna pre and power amps (68 lbs) from the middle shelves of my rack I say a little prayer. At 70 years old I now go by the mantra of my elementary school days - "Stop, Look And Listen!"

Had Don Sachs Kootenay. Drove a couple hours to pick it up. When I went to lift it to carry to the car was a little shocked. Money had passed hands. If I drop it it’s not going to be a good day. Had a fairly long walk through a big house down a walk way then down the drive way. Not a huge amp but very dense. Didn’t want to hear or see that little wood in closure hitting the concrete, part everywhere. If it did I quest I would have ask to borrow a broom and dust pan to clean my mess up and take my parts home in a garbage bag. My mom always told me to clean up after myself at strangers homes.

I would imagine most of us who have been into high end audio for decades own a hand truck, “sliders”, and a fulcrum to tip heavy weights so you can put the sliders under them. Also, we have brains.

 

I remember a few years ago I bought a large screen TVs. My partner is disabled. So, I alternatively placed books under it to bring it up to the height to tip it up into position.

 

The older I get, the more thought I must put into doing things safely. Or just pay someone to do it for me. I believe that is why I have been saving for retirement for the last 40 years.

My McInthosh MC462 weighs 148lbs, me, my wife and my son moved if into its current home in a rack 😆

It took every last bid of strength I had to put my Pass amp in the box before calling UPS.  Now the first thing I look at when buying any new component is how much it weighs.

Something is inversely/perversely going on.

double the wattage = only a bit louder

double wattage again = only a bit louder

sooo, why not: double the wattage, only a bit heavier?

*....channeling the music behind the opening of the old b&w series ....*

"Sounds like a job for:  CLASS D !  "

😏....Time to define what 'a bit heavier' would mean....built-in casters?

A 'beefy' pair of handles?  Removable, of course....must keep up appearances... ;)

Fork-lift channels at the bottom of the chassis?

"Heavy-lift helicopter service available at a modest charge...."

"...no, decided to go 'all-in' this time.....2kw mono a side....ought to do it...."

"50 thousand watts of funky!" (A refrain from a sound awhile back...)

Restraint be damned....*L*

 

“The Hitchhiker’s Guide to the Galaxy notes that Disaster Area, a plutonium rock band from the Gagrakacka Mind Zones, are generally held to be not only the loudest rock band in the Galaxy, but in fact the loudest noise of any kind at all. Regular concert goers judge that the best sound balance is usually to be heard from within large concrete bunkers some thirty-seven miles from the stage, while the musicians themselves play their instruments by remote control from within a heavily insulated spaceship which stays in orbit around the planet—or more frequently around a completely different planet.”

....used to be on speed dial....been awhile....🤔