I agree with the solid-state Class A amp also. Not because of the circuitry, which can be equally robust with both types of amps, but tubes are unreliable, especially output tube types that have limited lives and can become noisy, etc. If the heatsinking is done correctly on SS amps, they will take the brunt of the heat and any damage is localized to the sinks. If you really want to feel heat, try some OTL tube amps. I had some Fourier Panthere monoblocks that used 8 6C33CB output tubes with cooling fans--these things drew 5-6 amps at idle and doubled as space heaters. The unfortunate effects were a lot of internal heat damage, especially tube sockets.
more reliable amp: tube or solid state class A
i got to reading this thread:
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?aamps&1144724173&openfrom&1&4#1
i require no convincing that class A sounds better than AB or D or whatever else, but the efficiency is terrible, with the efficiency losses being reflected as heat.
and heat, as we know, causes thermal breakdown. this is a matter of engineering: the hotter a component runs, the shorter the mean time between failure. simple stuff.
but here's the question: if we took 2 equally hot-running amps, one tube and one SS, over the long haul, what would be more reliable? the tube amp, or the SS one?
i'm thinking the tube amp, solely b/c the tube is the hottest part, and its failure is accomodated for in the design (you simply plug in another tube). a hot running SS amp will eventually burn out resistors / transistors, and joe audiophile will be forced to send that to the factory for replacement.
(i am going to do some HVAC work on my room, and if i can keep in cool in mid July, i will be moving to the winner of this argument)
thx
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?aamps&1144724173&openfrom&1&4#1
i require no convincing that class A sounds better than AB or D or whatever else, but the efficiency is terrible, with the efficiency losses being reflected as heat.
and heat, as we know, causes thermal breakdown. this is a matter of engineering: the hotter a component runs, the shorter the mean time between failure. simple stuff.
but here's the question: if we took 2 equally hot-running amps, one tube and one SS, over the long haul, what would be more reliable? the tube amp, or the SS one?
i'm thinking the tube amp, solely b/c the tube is the hottest part, and its failure is accomodated for in the design (you simply plug in another tube). a hot running SS amp will eventually burn out resistors / transistors, and joe audiophile will be forced to send that to the factory for replacement.
(i am going to do some HVAC work on my room, and if i can keep in cool in mid July, i will be moving to the winner of this argument)
thx