Handling Heavy Amps


There are several amps I’m interested in possibly purchasing but I’m dissuaded because of their weight. I’ve had lower back issues so I need to be careful. I live alone. Even if my wife was still alive she would not have been able to help much. Also Children live far. I see that many of you have these 60-100 pound behemoths and I wonder how do you manage. If I buy from my dealer he’ll load it in my SUV. However when I get home it will be difficult to get it out and onto the garage floor where I can place it on my handcart. Then when I get it next to my rack I need to maneuver it out of the box and up onto the rack. I guess I would need to see if my dealer would deliver it and place it on the rack. Probably for a fee. So that may work. But then if I need to paint, move furniture, resell the unit whatever I would need help. I think I can handle up to 40lbs. So how do you handle these amps? Is it a concern for you?  I’m spoiled by my Benchmark 12 lb AHB2. It’s also the reason I’ve been investigating Class D amps. 

jfrmusic

@jfrmusic , you might check out the tool & machine renters....if all else, they might be able to recommend someone/something/somewhere to do your deed.

Sounds like what we're all coming to is an indoor friendly engine lift, similar to  that employed in pulling same from a car.....*hmmmm* 

....now, if it can be made to climb/descend stairs.....🤔😎

....and there's the 'D opt'.  Back-friendly featherweights..... ;)

Stay safe. J

Hello @jfrmusic , amps are indeed heavy, but those seem to sound amazing to me!

If you are in NJ, I strongly recommend my dealer Bill Parish at GTT.  HIs Audionet amps to me are the best, and his services is par none.   I have moved up the Audionet chain from Amps (good) to Max (heavier but not ridiculous and very very good) and now to the Heisenbergs which are stunning and I have never lifted.

BTW I have struggled with very heavy amps which are not nearly as good, including Classe and  Parasound Halo (yep).

...and there is NO comparison to the Benchmark amps (again and always to me).  I have had them in for direct comparison.  They are light I agree.  What did interest me at the CAF was the WestminsterLab Class A's, which were lighter and cooler than I expected.

...and finally, I am in tune with your concerns.  I am back two days now from having two (more) discs replaced and bone spurs on my spine removed.  Music is my nervana, and I am appreciative to have had great help assembling my system!

I was looking at the Westminster Labs Class A amps, but the price was too rich for me. At that time, I ended up with the KRELL Duo 175XD. It was about 70 lbs I think, but it is big and ugly. It is similar to the implementation of the Westminster. I believe the Westminster designer, or the USA distributor said the same words to me on the WBF thread. 

The KRELL Duo 175XD sounded great. Buttery smooth, powerful, with detail. It is all Class A (up to 175 watts if needed) and runs cool. It has fans but I never heard them come one, even when it was beside me as a headphone amp. I normally used it to drive the hard to drive Thiel CS3.7 speaker.

Duo 125 XD Stereo Amplifier Technical Specifications – Krell (krellhifi.com)

The lower watt, Duo 125XD is even lighter than the amp I had (60 lbs). The looks are not pretty but the sound is gorgeous.