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Line Magnetic 518ia - How Much Heat Does It Produce?

Hello, and thanks for any help with this. I'm helping a very dear friend, who loves music, and good audio equipment, put together a system. He has suffered some very serious personal setbacks of late, and one of the key things he has turned to, is putting together an audio system as a means to attempt to move forward. He is trying to put together a nice audio system in what he has available, a small room.

He travels a fair bit for work, and has had two recent experiences listening to the exceptional Line Magnetic 518ia, and was blown away by it. I can guarantee you that he has heard some very good audio components, but has been captivated by the 518ia. If you have heard it, or read the reviews, you understand, as I do. That's a truly amazing piece of gear, especially for the price.

Here is my concern, Because of serious budget deficits related to his other problems,  he can only afford one of these wonderful integrated amps, used. Okay, they are available  in his price range. I have him set up with speakers and everything else to maximize the quality of his system. But, this is a Class A amp, even if relatively low wattage. He would be using this in a 10x10 room, with the integrated amp only 2.5 feet away from where he sits. There is no other available placement. Is this going to overheat him, and/or the room? 

Any input would be appreciated. If he cannot make use of this amp he loves so much, it could get very difficult to find anything else, given it's price performance capabilities. 
nightfall

Showing 7 responses by nightfall

nightfall OP
224 posts
 
Thanks for everyone's input. Some of you clearly understand where I am coming from, others apparently do not. Yes, all tube amps put out heat. But dependent on design, tubes, and class there is a very wide variation. For example, I was out of town recently for three weeks and loaned him my office systems PrimaLuna tube amp. He had no heat issues whatever, but felt the amp, while very nice, was not in the league of the 518 (which I agree with him on). 

The Line Magnetic is Class A, and uses some tubes that run extremely hot. Thats a very different situation than normal in the tube world. I once had the experience of using an 845 based amp, with heat output not even quite to the level of the 518ia. I used that in my office, which is 10x11, and even with the door open, and the ac running it was too hot to work in the room. I did use it for a couple months the next winter, and after an hour of use, it had raised the temperature of the entire upstairs of the house by 5 degrees. 

I'm going to have to agree that the advice from wlutke, testpilot and others. This solution won't work. Now my problem is that, given that he loves the sound of that Line Magnetic amp, how do I possibly find something comparable to it in the same price range :(
nightfall OP
224 posts
 
Thanks again for everyones thoughts. Now the struggle is finding any integrated amps that will satisfy my friend (based on his loving the sound of the 518ia). It clearly needs to be something  that won't overheat him, and the room, is available for  $3-3500.00, used, and is somehow comparable to the sound of the Line Magnetics.

I've already discussed it with several audiophile friends that are familiar with the sound of the 518ia, and they too, are having difficulty coming up with something that meets all of the above. One initially suggested a Unison S6, which does sound like a real possibility, but I think that might  also present a heating issue. Its a Class A amp, only moderately powered, but in the Stereophile review, John Marks notes that, " The S6 performed flawlessly, though it did throw off a lot of heat.". That surprises me since it uses EL34 tubes. 
nightfall OP
224 posts
 
Al, and Charles, thanks to both of you for the input. I agree with everything you both had to say. The Unison is an intriguing option, but I suspect may still be too hot to be placed so close to my friends seating area, etc. 

He needs 25-35wpc, ideally. An amp that puts out a bit less but plays above its level, in terms of delivering power might also work. 

Charles, I find it very interesting that the First Watt S.I.T.  ran that hot. Was it the fabled S.I.T. 1, or the S.I.T. 2? Granted, some of Nelson's designs, despite being solid state, can get seriously, seriously hot. I was auditioning several sets of speakers for about 90 minutes last year with a friend. The dealer had us in a huge showroom (literally 100x50. He was using  a pair of Pass X600.8's, which aren't even pure class A, except for the first 100 watts or so (or something like that). Even in a room that large, by the end of the audition, we were sitting there with our shirts completely stuck to us,and sweating liberally from our heads! My friend actually had to go home to shower before meeting a group of us for dinner! 
nightfall OP
224 posts
 
Al, 

Once again, thanks for your thoughts. I have great admiration for Roger Modjeski and his products, and I happen to think his RM-200 is one of the truly great values out there. The problem is that his amps are designed and optimized for fully balanced operation, per my relatively recent discussion with him. Good luck finding a truly good, balanced preamp affordably! 
nightfall OP
224 posts
 
Brad, Interesting that you brought up Decware. I've honestly never heard their stuff but have read many glowing reviews and they fascinate me as a possible option. The Mystery a,mp is beyond my friends budget, but the Zen Torii MKIV would qualify. I had just finished reading that review by Jeff Dorgay of Tone Audio when I came across your message here. It may only have two inputs, but honestly, that is all my friend needs. 

Built in the USA, lifetime warranty, and free home trial  on their products are other great reasons to support Decware 
nightfall OP
224 posts
 
Al, thank you for your always valuable advice and expertise. That gain concern is a real issue if intending to use it as an integrated, as you wisely pointed out. You saved me from potentially making a mistake in recommending the Torii MkIV. I truly appreciate the input.
nightfall OP
224 posts
 
I cannot find a Line Magnetic 502ia model offered for sale in here in the US. 
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