I wouldn't complain too much! An amplifier that runs warmer at idle than another one (assuming adequate ventiilation) undoubtedly has been designed to have it's output stage biased "richer" with more standing current then an amplifier that runs stone cold. This is a good thing! At the extreme end of the scale, a high-end class "A" amplifier will run very hot, and this type of output stage is known for it's sound quality.

I'd much rather have an amplifier that is designed to run with more bias current (and subsequently runs warmer at idle) than one that runs a very lean bias and runs very cool. An amplifer that has very little bias current is going to generate more crossover distortion that must be masked by higher amounts of negative feedback - not a good thing.

One of the reasons tube amplifiers get so hot is the high amounts of standing bias current that is running through the output tubes at idle (the filaments contribute much less of the heat).

[This message has been edited by soundhound (edited October 04, 2004).]