Finding the Right Class A Amplifier Enclosure
An amplifier enclosure is an essential part of most amp designs. While they are fairly simple compared to the other components that make up an amplifier, choosing the right one still requires you to make some important choices.
What Does an Amplifier Chassis Do?
- An amp contains a lot of different components. A typical class A amplifier would have to include a power supply, plenty of heatsinks, a whole lot of other electrical components, and potentially a set of amp tubes.
- A chassis acts as a box to put all those components in. Having an aluminum, steel, or wooden shell around the working parts protects them from damage, keeps them all in the right places, and makes them all easier to move around together.
- Depending on the type of chassis, it can also help to protect the circuits from electrical interference. A chassis made from a metal like aluminum can actually help to preserve sound quality.
- Some types of chassis are designed to slot into racks or cabinets. This is very convenient if you have a lot of audio equipment to run.
Which Chassis Features Should I Look For?
- Make sure that the chassis is the right size for all your amplifier equipment. It needs to be able to hold the amp itself, including any necessary tubes, as well as the power supply and heat sinks. The chassis also needs to have space in the box for all of the necessary wiring for your amplifier, otherwise you won't be able to power the components. Amp wiring can be quite complex to avoid interference, so you can't just cram all the wires together inside the box.
- Different amplifier chassis models are made from different materials. Metals like aluminum and steel are particularly popular as they protect your amplifier from electrical interference. Compared to a lot of other metals, aluminum also has the advantage of being quite light. Amplifiers can get quite heavy, especially tube amplifiers, so cutting down on the overall weight by using an aluminum or other lightweight metal enclosure makes sense. Some people also make their own amplifier chassis out of wood.
- The chassis doesn't just need space for tubes and other components, it also needs gaps in the faceplate for volume controls, power switches, and jacks. Choose a layout that gives you the space for all the control dials, buttons, and cables that you might want to use.
- One of the most important factors for any chassis is heat management. Amps, tubes, and transformers all put off a lot of heat when they're in use, which is why no amplifier design is complete without the necessary heatsinks. Class A amplifiers run especially hot as they aren't very power efficient. Aluminum or steel boxes can trap a lot of heat, so they need ventilation. Choose an amplifier chassis with enough vents in the box to let the heat out.