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Tube Amps and young children - avoiding burns etc.

I would like to purchase a tube amp (either a stereo amp or monoblocks) but am afraid that my young daughter will want to touch the tubes through natural inquisativeness and will burn herself. (Young flesh burns easier than adult fresh apparently.) Then there's a good chance that her hands will be sticky/dirty and touching the tube (either hot or cold) will leave a residue that isn't conducive to proper tube performance . . .

Do you know of tube brands & models that are covered by some sort of cage, assuming that touching the cage won't burn her but touching the tubes might? The only brands that come to my mind are: VTL, Wolcott, and C-J. Are there others that I've missed and should audition/consider? I expect to purchase either stand mounted monitors or electrostatic speakers so SET amps probably won't apply and because my room is 40ft * 15ft will probably need 100 - 150watts/channel I've been told by Martin Logan head office.

I will be putting the amp in a large wooden armoir on the bottom shelf (hence accessable to small children) and will need to keep the doors open to allow for ventilation as the other 3 sides are wood (of course). The bottom shelf has about 2.5ft of clearance.

So, if you are a tube amp owner and parent of young children, please share with me your tricks at keeping them safe while allowing you the pleasures of tube sound.

Thanks for your thoughts.
kevinzoe
clueless
763 posts
 
Hi:

I was lucky enough to have 7 kids so when we lost two of them to the 450 volt plate voltage I barely noticed. It's kind of like one of those insect zappers only bigger. The other kids catch on real fast after that.

Cheers
I remain,
kevinzoe OP
163 posts
 
Thank you all for your responses thus far.
Snook2 - did you own the Wolcott monoblocks and if so did you think that the Manley was superior to them? I've heard such great things about the Wolcott's although a bit pricey.

Jab & Jeffloistarca - I'm sure you didn't mean it but the tones of your emails make it sound like I'm an idiot for not considering teaching my daughter what & what not to touch; what you've said is common sense and doesn't need to be said. Come on guys, how about answering the question (What other brands of amps have cages on them to prevent small prying fingers from touching hot tubes?) and leaving your parenting ideologies aside. Let's be pragmatic - the best risk is no risk so regadless of whether I've tought her, regardless of whether she's listened, and regardless of whether she may have a developmental delay let's address the danger of hot equipement.

Thank you Unsound for so poignantly articulating the issue - you sound like you might be an MD or Ph.D in psychology based on your sensitivity to the issue. The only downside to putting the amps on top and tethering it to the wall to prevent it from toppling over is that it'll be too high to turn on & off - the wife isn't about to find a chair to climb up to turn on the stereo.
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
4,163 posts
 
I can't think of any manufacturer that doesn't offer a protective cage as standard or as an option. Having a cage does not mean someone won't get burned since the cages can become hot themselves. High power tube amps needs massive amounts of ventilation and I would seriously question putting them in an armoire (yes, even with the door open). I would also question having stand mounted monitor speakers in a room accessible to small children. They are easily knocked over.
geoffkait's avatar
geoffkait
14,147 posts
 
If you want an amp enough, even tho' it might be open chassis, you will probably learn quickly how to make it child-proof, e.g. construct a cage around it or place it out of reach. The good news for a child is he/she will only touch a hot tube once, and briefly at that.
s23chang
615 posts
 
I put my large tube amp behind my DIY see through cabinet doors.
Never had single issue with 2 kids. I put 2 latches behind the door to lock it. I think is a matter of how you want to put you amp in a safe place and look nice
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