What amps should I audition?
Therefore I am doubtful about the long term reliability of their class A products. Nelson's heat sink practice. On a normal 25c day to be able to keep palms of the hands on the hottest part of the heat-sink for at least 6 seconds before becoming uncomfortable, this is around 60c (brick layers need not apply) which will have no reliability problems. Cheers George |
Georgehifi, I am NOT talking about the heatsinks. Open the box and measure how hot the TRANSFORMER is and MORE IMPORTANTLY, how hot the smoothing CAPACITORS are. Semiconductors dont die of heat so quickly but CAPACITORS DO (VERY QUICKLY). Read about their lifetimes from the manufacturers. Those typically last about 200,000 hours at 40 degrees C and about 2000 hours only at 85 degrees C. Even the BEST quality smoothing electrolytics (most likely Nichicons) that can go up to 105 degrees C wont last more than 3000 or so hours. Those are about $300 a piece and changing 4 will set u back about $1000 every couple of years. |
Georgehifi, I am NOT talking about the heatsinks.Knowing Pass amps very well, the hottest part will be the output transistors junction temp, and heatsinks, everything else inside will be fine. Those are about $300 a piece and changing 4 will set u back about $1000 every couple of years.This total scare mongering of Pass Amps, and you need to be gagged. I've built monster 2 man lift water cooled pure Class-A amps up to 150w, I know that Nelson would never design anything that would compromise the longevity of the internal components, they will be cooler than the heatsink temperature. So you can buy them in total confidence d2girls . Cheers George |
