I think that your experience is in line with diff btwn amps that are Class A (run hot) and A/B, although some A/B amps are biased heavily into class A and will run warm-hot most of the time.
Ayre amps - cool running?
Can anybody with experience with Ayre amplification tell me how hot or cool they run? I've had a big Krell, which was very warm when on but no music, and downright hot when actively being used, and I've had big Simaudio monos which were cool when on but no music, and only slightly warm under most conditions.