Valve Amplifier placement

[martois]

Thinking of placement for an integrated valve amplifier. Turn table and phono stage are on one shelf. Would there be any issues with putting the valve amp on the shelf where the football helmet and speak current sit? Too much heat? Is there a more ideal position?

 

[Juzzie Wuzzie]

My Primalunas throw off enough heat that I wouldn't do as you are considering (they are in "free air") ... but you could try and monitor for the first few uses as to whether you are comfortable or not.

 

[SohoAudiophile]

Nice looking setup. Ah the old subwoofer in a cupboard - you are clearly torn on style vs substance!

Heat dissipation is an exact science and you would be able to measure the air temperature around the amp while running it at high load for extended periods. I suppose heat would be convected out of the front of a cubic space like that fairly well. It would come down to how much heat the amp generates and how well it tolerates being hot for long periods. You might end up thinking about fans and mitigating signal and audio noise from them in the long run.

Others will know more but I would personally be uneasy about putting an expensive valve amplifier on the same shelf as a speaker.

 

[twinkletoes]

Dont enclose it, it get to hot for that! Or put it near sources of vibration, valves have "filaments" inside (like a light bulb) and you physically hear this. so no nowhere near the speaker or the subwoofer.

Basically nowhere in or on that sideboard/intergrated unit.

Sorry.

Let me put this like this my sugden is a class A design, I can physically cook an egg on the heat sink and if on all day will take the skin off your hand in the summer.

 

[nopiano]

It depends how tall/big the valve amp is, but I’d also not want big transformers under a record player, as hum might be easily induced - especially as you’re using a MC.

Why do you want valves, the least practical and least accurate device for amplification? (And obviously you wouldn’t keep the speaker there…or would you?)

Class D is ideal for confined spaces and elegant looks, e.g. Primare.

 

[Al ears]

It depends how tall/big the valve amp is, but I’d also not want big transformers under a record player, as hum might be easily induced - especially as you’re using a MC.

Why do you want valves, the least practical and least accurate device for amplification? (And obviously you wouldn’t keep the speaker there…or would you?

Class D is ideal for confined spaces and elegant looks, e.g. Primare.

I would agree. In that set-up nothing is ideally placed, certainly not the speakers, so throwing in a tube amp as well is slightly idiotic.
mind you it would be in keeping with everything else......
That said he might get away with one of the many hybrid amps that are on the market these days but a full blown tube amp? No. Not without buying a separate rack to site it on.
Always happens when you build a very nice installation, and it is very nice, but then find it's far from ideal for setting up a hifi system within.

 

[martois]

Nice looking setup. Ah the old subwoofer in a cupboard - you are clearly torn on style vs substance!

Heat dissipation is an exact science and you would be able to measure the air temperature around the amp while running it at high load for extended periods. I suppose heat would be convected out of the front of a cubic space like that fairly well. It would come down to how much heat the amp generates and how well it tolerates being hot for long periods. You might end up thinking about fans and mitigating signal and audio noise from them in the long run.

Others will know more but I would personally be uneasy about putting an expensive valve amplifier on the same shelf as a speaker.

I would agree. In that set-up nothing is ideally placed, certainly not the speakers, so throwing in a tube amp as well is slightly idiotic.
mind you it would be in keeping with everything else......
That said he might get away with one of the many hybrid amps that are on the market these days but a full blown tube amp? No. Not without buying a separate rack to site it on.
Always happens when you build a very nice installation, and it is very nice, but then find it's far from ideal for setting up a hifi system within.

I definitely did not design this for a HiFi system, and fully admit I am trying to figure out a way to make it work for my new “needs.” Appreciate the constructive bits of your response.

 

[martois]

Nice looking setup. Ah the old subwoofer in a cupboard - you are clearly torn on style vs substance!

Heat dissipation is an exact science and you would be able to measure the air temperature around the amp while running it at high load for extended periods. I suppose heat would be convected out of the front of a cubic space like that fairly well. It would come down to how much heat the amp generates and how well it tolerates being hot for long periods. You might end up thinking about fans and mitigating signal and audio noise from them in the long run.

Others will know more but I would personally be uneasy about putting an expensive valve amplifier on the same shelf as a speaker.

100%. Someday substance will win out, but trying to balance currently. LOL. Thanks for the insight and feedback!

 

[martois]

It depends how tall/big the valve amp is, but I’d also not want big transformers under a record player, as hum might be easily induced - especially as you’re using a MC.

Why do you want valves, the least practical and least accurate device for amplification? (And obviously you wouldn’t keep the speaker there…or would you?)

Class D is ideal for confined spaces and elegant looks, e.g. Primare.

Honestly I don’t know, just like the sound I heard from a valve amplifier at a local store (primaluna evo). I will keep an open mind for other solutions!

 

[martois]

Dont enclose it, it get to hot for that! Or put it near sources of vibration, valves have "filaments" inside (like a light bulb) and you physically hear this. so no nowhere near the speaker or the subwoofer.

Basically nowhere in or on that sideboard/intergrated unit.

Sorry.

Let me put this like this my sugden is a class A design, I can physically cook an egg on the heat sink and if on all day will take the skin off your hand in the summer.

This is great and helpful information, cheers!

 

[SohoAudiophile]

100%. Someday substance will win out, but trying to balance currently. LOL. Thanks for the insight and feedback!

Once I mentally accepted having speakers on proper stands sitting out in the room I didn't go back - it stops all the awful bass boom you get from the wall/box and sounds in a different league. You can always push them back into the corners if you've got family coming over etc. Most of the time it's just you probably.

 

[martois]

I would agree. In that set-up nothing is ideally placed, certainly not the speakers, so throwing in a tube amp as well is slightly idiotic.
mind you it would be in keeping with everything else......
That said he might get away with one of the many hybrid amps that are on the market these days but a full blown tube amp? No. Not without buying a separate rack to site it on.
Always happens when you build a very nice installation, and it is very nice, but then find it's far from ideal for setting up a hifi system within.

Don’t worry, I would never subject you to having to listen to music in this ridiculously poorly designed room.