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Ditching Class A Amps due to Heat - Sort of a Poll

A discussion elsewhere about the future of Class A made me wonder how true one statement really is. So the questions are...

Have you done away with your Class A Amp due to Heat concerns?

Will you be moving away from Class A Amp due to Heat concerns?

Will you never buy a Class A Amp due to Heat concerns?

I only have a class A/B unit that does Class A up to 6 watts with almost no heat so really can't speak for those who have used in the past or currently own and run Class A Amps.

brianh61

Showing 1 response by jaytor

jaytor's avatar
jaytor
766 posts
 

I own a pair of Pass XA60.8s which have an idle power dissipation of 400W each. I don't think I'd consider buying an amp that use more power than this at idle. 

My Pass amps have not been in my system for more than nine months since I've been using a pair of 300B PSET amps. These have plenty of power for my system and I like the sound a bit better (although the XA60.8s are very nice). My 300B amps are also class A, but have an idle power dissipation about half of the Pass amps. 

I do have a Purifi class D amp that I use in my bedroom system and it's nice to have extremely low idle power dissipation so that I can just leave the amp on all the time. But, as good as it is, it lags behind my Pass and 300B amps. 

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