[alwaysec]

I received the replacement tubes from A2A today, so came home just after lunch time. 
 
Now, the new tubes have been installed and the amp turned on. 
 
the setup is :
 
Dell Precision Mobile workstation + USB cable + WA7 + HD650. 
 
Local time:
3:10PM
 
Room temp: 20-25C (anyway, not hot, very comfortable today/this week)
 
Amp and PSU temp: Cold. 
 
I will report back one hour later.
 
 
 
Background story:
 
I received this amp a couple of weeks ago. The amp works well, but I soon noticed the amp and psu became very hot after running for 30 mins. 
 
It is reckoned that the tubes might be faulty. So Woo Audio arranged A2A to send me a set of new ones. 

 

[V-Duh]

"Crossing Fingers"

 

[pwfletcher]

And???  How are the new tubes doing?

 

[alwaysec]

it is 4:19pm now. 
 
the amp is warm. so is the psu. neither is burning hot. holding either in hands for extended period of time is not a problem. 
 
the glass is much warmer. i certainly do not touch the tubes.  
 
 
oh, no........

 

[alwaysec]

5:31pm
 
metal case is warm. i removed the glass "lid". dont know if it helped. now i place the glass lid back. 
 
the psu is HOT, not burning hot yet (but close). 

 

[alwaysec]

8:08pm
 
the unit is very warm but not burning. glass top is very hot. 
 
psu is hot too. 

 

[van41]

I dont own a wa7 but a wa6se and they do run warmish normally. They are a tube amplifier so they are expected to run warmish... But then i dk about the wa7.

 

[Kevin Brown]

So the new tubes do run cooler than the originals?

 

[kramer5150]

Well it is a tube amp.  So its going to run hotter than anything solid state.  Any time youre stepping up or down voltage, heat (to some degree) is the bi-product.  Glass is a thermal insulator, as compared to metals in general.  So the top surface of the chassis is not going to be able to emissively radiate any heat, with the glass cube on it.  It might not be an issue however, if the primary heat conductive surfaces by design are around the sides and back.
 
You're doing the right thing by monitoring it. Keep the power supply out in the open, and let it get fresh air.  It looks like the designer at some point had concerns with heat build up in the power supply box, hence the additional vent/holes.  A manufacturer is not going to risk the consumer getting debris inside the P/S unit, or go through the additional manufacturing process steps to drill holes into a hammond enclosure, unless there's a legit reason to do so that out-weighs the negatives.  Keep on the "lookout" for strange smells, and I wouldn't hesitate to put a small cooling fan near the P/S unit if it gets too hot to touch.
 
Side note... I just modded my darkvoice 337 with a pair of cooling fans underneath... sucker gets really hot.  Despite the annoying fan noise, I am much more comfortable now with everything running cooler.
 
Good luck though and keep us posted on your progress.
 

 

[alwaysec]

Quote:

So the new tubes do run cooler than the originals?

 
it did seem the metal case was less warm and touchable yesterday, but i am not sure if it is just because yesterday was a cooler day than last weekend. i will try both sets of tubes this weekend.
 
Quote:

Well it is a tube amp.  So its going to run hotter than anything solid state.  Any time youre stepping up or down voltage, heat (to some degree) is the bi-product.  Glass is a thermal insulator, as compared to metals in general.  So the top surface of the chassis is not going to be able to emissively radiate any heat, with the glass cube on it.  It might not be an issue however, if the primary heat conductive surfaces by design are around the sides and back.
 
You're doing the right thing by monitoring it. Keep the power supply out in the open, and let it get fresh air.  It looks like the designer at some point had concerns with heat build up in the power supply box, hence the additional vent/holes.  A manufacturer is not going to risk the consumer getting debris inside the P/S unit, or go through the additional manufacturing process steps to drill holes into a hammond enclosure, unless there's a legit reason to do so that out-weighs the negatives.  Keep on the "lookout" for strange smells, and I wouldn't hesitate to put a small cooling fan near the P/S unit if it gets too hot to touch.
 
Side note... I just modded my darkvoice 337 with a pair of cooling fans underneath... sucker gets really hot.  Despite the annoying fan noise, I am much more comfortable now with everything running cooler.
 
Good luck though and keep us posted on your progress.
 

 
i am fully aware that a tub amp is supposed to be warm. however quite a few people reported their units (wa7) were quite cool/a little warm when running, both the amp and the psu. i am going to order an infrared thermometer or a cheap alternative, but wont be able to receive it before this weekend.  

 

[kramer5150]

Quote:

it is 4:19pm now. 
 
the amp is warm. so is the psu. neither is burning hot. holding either in hands for extended period of time is not a problem.
 
the glass is much warmer. i certainly do not touch the tubes.  
 
 
oh, no........

I missed this comment.
I think your amp is fine...  run it and enjoy.   I would still make sure the power supply is in the open enough to get fresh air though. 

 

[alwaysec]

Quote:

I missed this comment.
I think your amp is fine...  run it and enjoy.   I would still make sure the power supply is in the open enough to get fresh air though. 

i hope so. anyway, the final tests are going to start.

 

[alwaysec]

5:15pm
15/2/13
 
room temp: 26C
 
flac file, volume knob is at 9oclock.
 
start!

 

[alwaysec]

6:15pm
 
34-35C, metal case
 
35c, glass top
 
36c, psu

 

[Sylafari]

Quote:

6:15pm
 
34-35C, metal case
 
35c, glass top
 
36c, psu

 
I don't think 36C for a PSU is that hot.