The heat generated from a class A tube amp is significant and can be annoying. I have a Black Ice Audio Fusion and a Cary tube amp. I can only run them in the cooler late autumn through the winter seasons. The rest of the year I run bridged Schiit Aegirs and Outlaw Audio 2200 monoblocks. For class A, the electrical cost is not the issue; it's the heat. If the bias current is not spot on, the amps will overheat and shut down. The Black Ice uses four 6550s and the Cary uses eight KT88s. Yes the 6550s are the functional equivalent of oven coils although KT88s are slightly cooler. This may be sacrilege, but if I had to do it all over again, I would go with class D. My Ampeg SVT tube amp runs nowhere as hot as these stereo amps.
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.