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Pass Labs Amps - Does the heat bother you?

I am very intrigued by pass amplifiers (NOT the intergateds). I have heard many good things about them. However, I also have heard from many people that they get really hot. I am interested in the stereo amps.... like the X350. 

Curious, if you own one or used to own one... how do/did you deal with the heat? I wouldn’t want it heating up my living room where the AC runs more (which kills my music enjoyment session). 

Also, I usually leave my  amp on from 5:00 pm till I go to bed (anywhere from 9:00 pm to 12 am). Not sure how that would come into play if a pass labs would be a good fit for me. 

 

dman777
jrareform's avatar
jrareform
181 posts
 

I have an enclosed studio that has no central air, just a mini split for cooling and circulation.  I use a pass Labs xa30.8.  It stays warm in there or even hot over night.  I leave the amp on because it takes days for it to sound best, partially because I have some sort of electrical issue that I haven't been able to hunt down that my friend and I believe is related to having a transformer box in our back yard.  It emits a buzzing sound here and there that is intermittent.  When I leave the pass on all the time, it is silent.

This is all to say, I feel like Pass Labs amps sound the best being left on.  If you don't have good ventilation or your AC is loud, maybe avoid pass Labs?

Curious if anyone has any experience with the Coda s5.5 and if that thing is hot as well?  Would love to audition one to try vs my XA30.8

paoz's avatar
paoz
42 posts
 

coda amp are much colder, they don't heat up

patrickalston
161 posts
 

I live in Phoenix and leave my BAT monoblocks on for days.  Each has 12 tubes and I can feel the heat just walking in past my 15 x 25 listening space.  The space  gets warmer when the DAC (6 tubes)  and preamp (18 tubes) and phono stage (10 tubes, I think) are switched out of standby mode.  It's gets a little toasty, but it's worth it. I have a quiet ceiling fan that stays on high speed to help cool things down and my A/C is set to a chilly 77 degrees (That's chilly for those of us who live in the desert).  Personally, if you love the sound, I wouldn't be concerned if an amp runs a little warm.  

yyzsantabarbara
5,547 posts
 

@8th-note You should have a listen to the KRELL Duo XD amps. Beautiful 100% Class A and it runs cool, not even warm. Only issue is if KRELL is still in business.

CODA amps only run warm. My current #11 is the warmest of all the CODA amps I owned, #16, #8, CSiB. The KRELL Duo XD amps run cooler.

panerai557's avatar
panerai557
99 posts
 

X250.8 owner here. Would I wish the amp to run cooler? Yes, but it is perfect for along Canadian winter ❄️ the big  bright blue meter actually bothers me at night. I wish theres way to turn thr led off. 

I really love the sound so I cannot seem to change the amp. 

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