Valve amp running costs

[Audio Al]

I now have a B Gas smart meter and it show £0.07 per hour running cost using my Pre - Power combo Transcription audio, 211 valves , with the 1200G Technics and the Vista audio phone

I'm happy with that :santa:

[spendorman]

I don't usually run a valve amplifier in summer, in the winter, I don't mind the approx 180 Watts of power helping to heat the room.

[topoxforddoc]

Much less than the stylus wear cost per hour

[Light Dependant Resistor]

Noting the 2x AA battery costs in the phone as well.:eyebrows: Recharge-able AA batteries being a reasonable solution though, if charging is done using a solar panel type charger .

[YNWaN]

I don’t think there are any batteries in the Vista Audio phonostage.

[Light Dependant Resistor]

I don’t think there are any batteries in the Vista Audio phonostage.
My misunderstanding , but was written as "Vista audio phone" suggesting it was this https://www.plantronics.com/hk/en/product/vista-m22
rather than this http://www.vista-audio.com/products/phono-1mkII/index.htm which I agree is more likely.

[Audio Al]

No batteries in the Vista Audio phonostage.:santa:

[paulf-2007]

I don't usually run a valve amplifier in summer, in the winter, I don't mind the approx 180 Watts of power helping to heat the room.
Is that 180w of music output or input power, whatever, how does that equate to heat as a by product. Any idea of the cost in pennies per hour.

[spendorman]

That's 180 Watts of input power, say 17p per KWh, cost is approx 3p per hour.

And 180/1000 th the heat output of a 1 bar fire.

[paulf-2007]

That's 180 Watts of input power, say 17p per KWh, cost is approx 3p per hour.

And 180/1000 th the heat output of a 1 bar fire.thats good, better than some of these huge solid state amps that people have

[spendorman]

thats good, better than some of these huge solid state amps that people have

Only if it's a large class A transistor amp.

A usual class AB transistor amp might only take 10 to say 25 Watts ticking over.

[paulf-2007]

Only if it's a large class A transistor amp.

A usual class AB transistor amp might only take 10 to say 25 Watts ticking over.are you a politician?
You start off with large class A then go onto class AB ticking over. Haha

[spendorman]

are you a politician?

Far from that, just an old retired engineer.

[paulf-2007]

Far from that, just an old retired engineer.
Me too

[Barry]

You haven't factored in the cost of valve replacement, especially the output power valves.

[Opti-cal]

You haven't factored in the cost of valve replacement, especially the output power valves.

That's the only factor I consider to be honest. Pre tubes etc could be good for 10,000 hours but output tubes could go in less than 2000.

At least my Quads only cost a penny an hour on tick over . . . .

[spendorman]

At least my Quads only cost a penny an hour on tick over . . . .

If they are Quad II's, I would have thought more than that.

[Opti-cal]

If they are Quad II's, I would have thought more than that.

Indeed they would! Sorry should have specified speakers (63's). Silly of me considering this is an amp thread . . .

Think they consume quite a lot during charge up but once fully charged they are very low on consumption.

[hornucopia]

Smart meters? Just another layer of things to worry about! It's bad enough that folk angst about getting enough 'likes' on their inane posts!

[struth]

Smart meters? Just another layer of things to worry about! It's bad enough that folk angst about getting enough 'likes' on their inane posts!

:thumbsup::rfl:

[paulf-2007]

Smart meters? Just another layer of things to worry about! It's bad enough that folk angst about getting enough 'likes' on their inane posts!
When the monitor started flashing red I unplugged it. Obviously we will use more energy in the winter I don't need reminding, just send me the bill.

[paulf-2007]

It's bad enough that folk angst about getting enough 'likes' on their inane posts!snowflake alert

[Barry]

Indeed they would! Sorry should have specified speakers (63's). Silly of me considering this is an amp thread . . .

Think they consume quite a lot during charge up but once fully charged they are very low on consumption.

Apart from two house moves, and a couple of power cuts, my Quad 57s have been constantly powered up for the last 45 years. Let's see at 6W per speaker, that's 4733.64 kW hours, which at 12p per unit is just over £568.

Then there are the preamplifiers, phonostages and CDPs which are left on 'standby' when not in use.

But I won't mention my class A power amplifiers - they have a standing (idling) dissipation of 800W. Not only are they switched off when not in use, but are only used in the winter months. Something more efficient is used in summer.

[Barry]

That's the only factor I consider to be honest. Pre tubes etc could be good for 10,000 hours but output tubes could go in less than 2000.

At least my Quads only cost a penny an hour on tick over . . . .

I have heard of valve (tube) enthusiasts annually replacing their output valves.

[Made in 1968]

Apart from two house moves, and a couple of power cuts, my Quad 57s have been constantly powered up for the last 45 years. Let's see at 6W per speaker, that's 4733.64 kW hours, which at 12p per unit is just over £568.

Then there are the preamplifiers, phonostages and CDPs which are left on 'standby' when not in use.

But I won't mention my class A power amplifiers - they have a standing (idling) dissipation of 800W. Not only are they switched off when not in use, but are only used in the winter months. Something more efficient is used in summer.

Never thought i would ever see you buy anyting other than the old Quads you used!

[Barry]

Never thought i would ever see you buy anyting other than the old Quads you used!

Oh - I still have a pair of 303s, three (modified) 405s, a pair of 'monoblocked' 405s (modified to Keith Snook Level 3, with vastly improved power supplies), a pair of 510s and a 520f.

The 510s are used in place of the Levinson ML-2s during the summer.

[Made in 1968]

Saying that i never thought id use 70's Jap gear but would not use anything else now.. You ever use a Qwad 240?

[spendorman]

Oh - I still have a pair of 303s, three (modified) 405s, a pair of 'monoblocked' 405s (modified to Keith Snook Level 3, with vastly improved power supplies), a pair of 510s and a 520f.

The 510s are used in place of the Levinson ML-2s during the summer.

Where are the Quad II's?

[Made in 1968]

Even a dedicated Qwad fan has to admit they are best left turned off.

:D

[spendorman]

I think they sound wonderful, but my ears are older than yours!

[Barry]

Where are the Quad II's?

I've had two pairs of Quad IIs at some time or other in my system (fitted with M-O Valve Company KT66s and complete with Quad 22 preamps), but these days the only valve amp I have is a Radford STA15/III (fitted with Mullard Blackburn Road EL34s).

[Made in 1968]

Way too pipe & slippers for me.. I thought the Leaks were much better but i suppose the QII is a classic design that has a large following

[spendorman]

I've had two pairs of Quad IIs at some time or other in my system (fitted with M-O Valve Company KT66s and complete with Quad 22 preamps), but these days the only valve amp I have is a Radford STA15/III (fitted with Mullard Blackburn Road EL34s).

I had three sets of II/22's, sold two sets, kept one. I also still have Radford, STA25 III, two pairs of 57's here, and a pair of 63's.

[Barry]

You ever use a Qwad 240?

No, nor am I interested in trying/buying one, despite the fact they had a very short production run so are one of the rarest Quad items.


If I lust after a Quad item, it would probably be a pair of Quad 303A2s: modified 303s with a built-in electronic crossover, with one channel being used for the low frequencies, the other for the high frequencies. Intended for use with the Rogers built BBC LS3/7 speaker, where it is known as the AM8/15.

https://upload.review33.com/images/201207/201207100232153660.jpg

[Made in 1968]

What about the BBC spec H/H amps?

[Barry]

What about the BBC spec H/H amps?

Those were to replace the Swisstone Rogers-modified Quad 405. Again this is a dual-channel amplifier fitted with a BBC designed electronic crossover and intended to be used with the Rogers BBC LS5/8 speaker. The amplifier was designated AM8/16.

With Quad (as part of the International Audio Group) having been sold off to the Chang brothers in China, the BBC had to look for a locally sourced product for continuity. They chose HH Electronics as replacements.