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How hot is pure Class A solid state vs. SET?

Generally speaking, would a Class A solid state amp generate a lot more or similar heat as a single ended tube amp? Not surface temp, but the air around it. Tubes get hot, but their surface area is usually very small compared to big heat sinks on a SS Class A amp.

I am thinking about going from an AB SS amp to a Pass Aleph 30, but I am concerned about the heat. I have an Almarro A205A 5 WPC EL84/12AX7 SEP amp that is fine for me in this regard.
eugene81

Showing 1 response by david12

david12
1,454 posts
 
In general, I would say a SET will be hotter. I could put my hand on my Aleph 3, comfortably for 20 seconds. The hottest amp I have had was a Viva Solista, you could coook breakfast on that. It is'nt only dependent on the tubes with a SET, the Solista was very hot with 2, 211 and 2, 845 valves. I use an Ayon Spark too, the same 623C tubes as the Almarro and it is'nt that hot.
So it must come down to circuit design too, as well as the tube.
The clear winner as a radiator, was the Viva Solista
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