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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
128x128onehole149

Showing 3 responses by ieales

ieales's avatar
ieales
1,201 posts
 
A year round solution is to add two small fans to the top of the tube cage.
See http://ielogical.com/assets/Audio/PrimaLunaAmpFans.jpg

Fans are 60mm x 10mm 12v https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00KIDDEP2
powered from a DC 3v supply https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07663HSRN

Center fans over each power tube pair.
Mount w #3 machine screws atop a 1/4" nylon spacer.
Wire so the fan is blowing up.

Fans barely tick over and are absolutely quiet. It takes very little air to remove the heat.

Amps sounds more consistent when kept within a consistent temperature range. Been doing this since the 70’s.
ieales's avatar
ieales
1,201 posts
 
OOPS... roof is only about 0.9GW/day for a 12 hr period ~<:-/
ieales's avatar
ieales
1,201 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.
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