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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
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,615 posts
 

@elliottbnewcombjr The FDA has approved a prosthetic meniscus replacement now so knee replacement doesn't have to be a thing. Thought you should know; I apologize if you already did. Good Luck with it!

elliottbnewcombjr
5,197 posts
 

thanks ralph,

I had 2 meniscus surgeries, then the 3rd tear, I felt it happen, same knee, when I picked that 80 lb amp up from a lower shelf.

They had a look, said considering two prior surgeries, they wern't so sure what they were looking at. Try rehab. I did, didn't work, I sleep with a pillow between the knees, I may have someone else have a look.

marktheshark's avatar
marktheshark
55 posts
 

You may want  to go Class D, I have tube amps, and have lugged Pass Labs mono-blocks around. It does get difficult sometimes. There are many Class D amps that sound amazing, maybe pair them with a tube front end Pre ???

laginz
18 posts
 

40-45 pounds is pretty much the weight limit for me as well these days. Right now I’m running an SST Son of Ampzilla 2 (with a sound I’d describe as equal parts tubish , Class A ish and, Class AB ish) into first gen Von Schweikert VR-4s. Amp is 40 lbs on the dot—and the setup sounds pretty great. Very good bass, transparent high frequencies  and naturally detailed sounding midrange. Excellent sound staging as well. A little more forward in presentation than Pass amps, but I suspect a little less so than the AHB2.

jfrmusic OP
124 posts
 

@laginz 

I did my best to find a light weight amp I could live with. But once I was able to have it delivered and setup for me I decided to entertain amps under 70 pounds. And there are many in that 45-70 lb range. It came down to the Bryston 4b3 at 62lbs and the Accuphase p-4600 at 66lbs. If I need to I’ll have someone help me move the amp. For example If I get new carpeting the installers will move it just like they will move the furniture. It will be an unusual case for me to needed it moved. 

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