Amplifier Weight. A Factor?

Weight seems a deciding factor with tube amps, as others have said. There is simply no substitute for big, high quality output transformers with tube amps. If a tube amp does'nt weigh 50lbs+, it will not have the base to give long term satisfaction.
Before anyone else says it, this does'nt apply to OTL amps, though they seem pretty heavy too. I bought a little!! Ayon Spark tube amp recently, it looks small, but it is a brute to move, with all the weight in 3 massive transformers in the back. Was it worth the prolapsed disc getting it upstairs? Absolutely

The weight of amplifier, largely, depends on its power supplies. Many look on rms power in specs to estimate how powerful the amplifier in question is but others look only at headroom i.e. peak voltage, current, their duration and level of distortions there.

In that regard, all amplifiers of all types (A,B,D tube, ss etc) will in the future benefit from ultralight weight FULLY REGULATED and LOW NOISE switching power supplies.

Today,as far as I know, only Jeff Rowland in their flagship amplifiers and Spectron in their pro audio amplifiers use this technology (again FULLY REGULATED and LOW NOISE). For illustration, Spectron (prototype) pro audio 8000 watts rms amplifier weight about 100 lbs.

Simon

I think unsound said it best. My Burson's casework is the heatsink so its a little heavier than its size would indicate but not by much compared to others.

Having been around great lightweight components and lousy heavy ones, I find the idea of weight translating to quality has tremendous potential to mislead.

One thing that hasn't been mentioned here is that as much or more than anything else, the chassis factors into the weight equation. If you really want to ace this test, simply use steel rather than aluminum; the thicker, the better. Let's also not forget a steel chassis costs less.

So many of these overwrought, uberexpensive boxes of today have no capability of adding much, if anything, to sonics or build quality.

Ckoffend- Me thinks you are way off on that. My Berkeley Alpha DAC can be picked up in one hand, carefully, and sounds fine enough that I do not want for another (rare). Having said that, my amp weighs 180lbs and I hate that about it. I'm in the process of looking at amps and strongly consider this as I narrow the list. Heading for 50 and joints worn down from years of hoops....I can do 100lbs if I LOVE the amp but damn, no more! Spectral, which I am near certain will be the next amp, are about 65-70lbs and to my ears out perform many of the back breaking ball crushers. Actually, to my ears they out perform damn near everything but thats another thread! Now, if you don't mind, I need to go ice my groin after moving the Krell.....