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Cool running, low powered power amp

My regular amp is a Class A, all tube (KT 88’s) affair that runs very warm. For most of the year, it doesn’t matter. But in the dog days of summer, it can become unpleasant in my smallish listening room, where the AC doesn’t reach as well.

My speakers are Volti Razz, which are something like 97 db efficient. My big tube amp is out in California getting repaired, and at the moment, the Volti are enjoying time spent with a Scott 299A. Those 17 wpc are plenty (and sound way better than a 65 year-old amp with original tubes (or at least, tubes marked "H.H. Scott") should. Volti says it only needs to be 8 watts to do the job.

I was thinking of First Watt, or maybe Pass Labs XA 25. But both of those are also Class A. But maybe all Class A are not alike in terms of generating heat. I am not anti-class D, and have had two Class D amps that sounded good, but I’d be more interested in A/B, or cooler running Class A. I'd like to bring it in under $3000, and I am a big fan of used equipment.

Thanks,

David

 

dtorc

Showing 3 responses by dtorc

dtorc OP
11 posts
 

Thank your for your suggestions! I have checked out each one, going to websites and reading discussions about them. And i entered some new worlds (Such as Mr. Nixie and Decware) that I didn’t know about before. You have got me exploring and thinking, which is what I wanted. I don’t know which way I will go yet, but a few of you did express the spirit of trying something new, and since this is a two-month substitute, I can afford to think outside the same old thing. Of course, that Burmeister looks great, but my retirement budget is a real thing, so reaching that far remains a dream.

And yes, I might buy a small window AC unit and pre-cool the room before I shut it off and listen. After putting so much money into a whole-house AC unit (that works great everywhere but this one carbuncle of a room hanging off the house), it is a bit frustrating that I have to resort to that. A nice cool-running amp might be more fun!

Thanks, all...

dtorc OP
11 posts
 

Okay - after all of your good thoughts provoked an examination of my priorities with this summer substitute of an amp, I decided to order the Decware Triode amplifier - all 2.3 watts of it. I decided that since I have speakers that can actually make very good use of that kind of amplifier, and I've never owned anything like it, I may as well lean into the whole thing. These are my first and only set of horn speakers, and to not explore the low-power SET experience seems like a waste. I ordered it today, and do not yet know when it will arrive. 

Thanks again for all of your opinions - I valued them all, including exploring ways to goose my AC in this room.

 

David

dtorc OP
11 posts
 

Well - the joke's on me! How naive! I ordered my new Decware Triode, and understood there was a waiting list. I figured it would arrive sometime in July, just when I need it. Well, that may be true, but it would have been three July's from now. As the nice person at Decware said, the waiting list is "at least" three years long. 

I know they are a niche company that makes bespoke products that people apparently love. So, I have no problem with their business plan and respect their approach - I just didn't understand it. So, I canceled my order within hours, and now the search goes on.

Since I am intrigued by low power tube amps at the moment, I see that there is an Eastern Electric Mini Max for sale within my budget, and also a Sophia Electric SET Music Baby amp as well. Anyone have experience with either or both of those?

I do understand that all Class A amps  emit heat - that is baked into the design. But it is a matter of having a 100 watt bulb, or a 15 watt bulb burning in a small closet. I think the 15 watt would be more comfortable.

Thanks,

David

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