WA7 Overheating
Feb 15, 2013 at 4:50 AM Post #20 of 32
My Wa7 arrived this morning so I thought I would run a quick temp test while I try it out for the first time.
 
I am in Adelaide South Australia
 
The current at the wall is 250v measured
 
Ambient 26c , running Itunes lossless from a Dell 17r via Wasapi , Audioquest Forrest cable , Hi z volume 50% ,
Ety Er4s via 3.5 jack , glass on
 
                         power supply                  case                     glass                      tube
 
3 min                26c                                  26c                      26c                        31c
30min               32c                                  31c                      32c                        68c
60min               35c                                  35c                      36c                        75c
90min               35c                                  36c                      38c                        78c
120min             35c                                  37c                      38c                        78c
150min             35c                                  37c                      39c                        79c
180min             36c                                  38c                      40c                        79c
 
Power supply measured from the holes on top
Case measured from left side central
Glass measured from front centre
Tube measured top of flash
 
Hope that gives you something to compare to.
By contrast my LaFigaro 332s is running at 60c on the case after 30min and that's normal.
 
Feb 15, 2013 at 6:20 AM Post #21 of 32
glass top: 40c
metal case: 41c
psu: 39c
 
tube is 50c (i know it is incorrect, but it is the best i can do now. here is what i use to measure the temp: http://www.jaycar.com.au/productView.asp?ID=QM7314)
 
Feb 15, 2013 at 6:27 AM Post #22 of 32
Quote:
My Wa7 arrived this morning so I thought I would run a quick temp test while I try it out for the first time.
 
I am in Adelaide South Australia
 
The current at the wall is 250v measured
 
Ambient 26c , running Itunes lossless from a Dell 17r via Wasapi , Audioquest Forrest cable , Hi z volume 50% ,
Ety Er4s via 3.5 jack , glass on
 
                         power supply                  case                     glass                      tube
 
3 min                26c                                  26c                      26c                        31c
30min               32c                                  31c                      32c                        68c
60min               35c                                  35c                      36c                        75c
90min               35c                                  36c                      38c                        78c
120min             35c                                  37c                      38c                        78c
150min             35c                                  37c                      39c                        79c
180min             36c                                  38c                      40c                        79c
 
Power supply measured from the holes on top
Case measured from left side central
Glass measured from front centre
Tube measured top of flash
 
Hope that gives you something to compare to.
By contrast my LaFigaro 332s is running at 60c on the case after 30min and that's normal.

what thermometer did you use? yours is cooler than mine. 
 
Feb 15, 2013 at 8:44 AM Post #24 of 32
Quote:
final measurement
 
12:10am
 
room temp: 25
 
glass top: 41c
metal case: 39c
psu: 40c
 
good night

 
40C PSU is really not that bad imo, my Schiit Asgard constantly is at about that temperature but than again it is a different amp. 
 
Feb 15, 2013 at 5:02 PM Post #26 of 32
I use a small ir type it is very accurate at these temps.
The levels you have listed are really quite low for a tube amp and well within safe levels for electronic equipment.
Your slightly higher temps would be down to air flow differences I think.
Case temps around 80c would be cause for concern.
As far as the glass is concerned with slow heating you could safely go to near 200c.
 
Feb 16, 2013 at 12:54 AM Post #27 of 32
Relax buddy, just listen to the tube and enjoy the smooth lush sound!
 
Feb 17, 2013 at 6:06 AM Post #28 of 32
My temps are around the same give or take a couple degrees, these are not hot temps at all- which is GREAT NEWS!!! It means you can just enjoy the amp now. 
 
Just goes to show we all have different ideas of "hot" and "warm". 
 
Awesome amp though, its still my favorite to date.
 
Feb 17, 2013 at 8:14 PM Post #29 of 32
Quote:
I use a small ir type it is very accurate at these temps.
The levels you have listed are really quite low for a tube amp and well within safe levels for electronic equipment.
Your slightly higher temps would be down to air flow differences I think.
Case temps around 80c would be cause for concern.
As far as the glass is concerned with slow heating you could safely go to near 200c.

i will order one of ir type too. never knew a thermometer could be very handy sometimes. i do feel sort of relieved now knowing that it is just around 40C and the glass and metal case are just warm but not burning hot like before. 
 
Quote:
My temps are around the same give or take a couple degrees, these are not hot temps at all- which is GREAT NEWS!!! It means you can just enjoy the amp now. 
 
Just goes to show we all have different ideas of "hot" and "warm". 
 
Awesome amp though, its still my favorite to date.

 
yes, finally i can simply enjoy the music and dont need to worry about a burning unit. cheers.
 
Feb 27, 2013 at 1:47 PM Post #30 of 32
Received my WA7. Thought I would add my initial observations:
 
Temperatures were measured with a Fluke 62 Max+. Maximum temperature degrees C scanned in given location noted.
 
Ambient:  19.2 deg C
 
 
Minutes    Supply   Case     Tube
     0          19.2      19.2      19.2
   20          25.0      21.3      62.5
   40          29.8      25.5      66.5
   60          32.3      28.1      69.6
   80          33.2      29.3      73.0
 100          35.5      31.9      73.3
 120          35.6      32.6      73.5
 180          36.9      34.7      74.4
 240          37.4      34.8      76.1
 

So far I have listened with both hifiman HE-500 and Beyerdynamic T90. Things are still changing as the stock Sovtek tubes settle in. Initial Impressions after 6 hrs:
 
Silent background
Solid bass with clarity, impressive transient capability
That tube magic midrange
Impressive clarity on the high frequencies
 
I was on the fence about selling the HE-500. They are competent but never really sparkled on my other amps (WA3+, V200, O2, DAC-1.) They seem to have come to life on the WA7. They stay while I listen longer and evaluate this combination.
 
As each to his own on their search for sonic utopia, I must say that if I was told I could only have the WA7 and the Beyer T90, I would indeed be happy to listen to my library, enjoying the music quite well. In fact the danger of this combination is losing oneself in the music and forgetting time. A reminder that my preferences and auditory canal resonances are such that given the Sennheiser HD600 and HD650 I would choose the HD600. YMMV.
 

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