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Tube amps and heat

I have 2 systems in play. #1 PrimaLuna Dialogue amp with a Mytek Brooklyn DAC using Tidal. # 2 BelCanto Ref 600 Mono's same Mytek and Tidal.  I like the PrimaLuna slightly better. More separation and just the right amount of bass. The Bel Canto is very close but ever so slightly missing something, maybe in clarity separation. Since I live in AZ using the PrimaLuna with 14 tubes is difficult (HEAT). Question --- Is there am amp the will give me the sound of the PrimaLuna tube and not generate as much heat, something like a hybred. Or can I put in the BelCanto system a tube pre amp/hybred and get the tube benefit on that system as well. I've been using the PrimaLuna system during the winter, however we are starting to warm up here. 90+ this weekend and I'm afraid I'll have to shut down the PrimaLuna for 6 months or so. Suggestions anyone. BTW I just tried a Aesthetix Calypso Pre with the Bel's and didn't like the sound. I could live with it, but it's not what I'm looking for.
Thanks

gary
onehole149
trelja
3,215 posts
 
@rhljazz +1

More than a decade ago in the 95 - 100 degree heat of a Philadelphia summer, with a pair of popular Class A tube mono blocks that ran as hot as Hades, my wife put her foot down for the one and only time.  And I use several (ceiling and floor) fans and the air conditioner.  She never said to get rid of them, but that they were a DEFINITE no go in the dead of the summer, and to put them on hiatus until September 
ieales's avatar
ieales
297 posts
 
Tube amps don’t need to be on all the time. 20 minutes is more than enough time to stabilize.

Solar input for Arizona is around 8 KWh/m²/day. A 2400ft² roof is about 1.8 GIGAwatts per day.

A refrigerator, computer, TV and all the other electric stuff generates far more heat than a tube amp.

The San Fernando Valley has many days over 100°F and mid 20th century houses were not very well insulated.

A 40w tube amp is about 0.2 kW/h. The additional heat when dissipated by the fans will not be noticed.
ieales's avatar
ieales
297 posts
 
OOPS... roof is only about 0.9GW/day for a 12 hr period ~<:-/
perfectpathtech's avatar
perfectpathtech
226 posts
 
Bob Carver has designed around the heat issue. Not sure if he offers a integrated. Sounds like its a big enough issue to at least take a look at.
They say all his new tube amps sound wonderful, I bet they do.  
wig's avatar
wig
831 posts
 

I'm in Southern NM with temps as high as 116 degrees during the day and 99 degrees at 11 PM and never noticed any real differences in an overly hot room and this was with SETs and now KT88 amp.

I just love the sound of tubes and would deal with a little sweat if I had too :)


Wig

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