Editing Instrument amplifier (section)

===Solid-state amplifiers===

By the 1960s and 1970s, semiconductor transistor-based amplifiers began to become more popular because they are less expensive, more resistant to bumps during transportation, lighter-weight, and require less maintenance. In some cases, tube and solid-state technologies are used together in amplifiers. A common setup is the use of a tube preamplifier with a solid-state power amplifier. There are also an increasing range of products that use [[digital signal processing]] and digital [[Amplifier modeling|modeling]] technology to simulate many different combinations of amp and cabinets. 

The output transistors of solid-state amplifiers can be passively cooled by using metal fins called heatsinks to radiate away the heat. For high-wattage amplifiers (over 800 watts), a fan is often used to move air across internal heatsinks.<ref>[http://www.yorkville.com/default.asp?p1=6&p2=17&p_id=25 Power Amplifiers - General Information: Yorkville Sound] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101007213736/http://www.yorkville.com/default.asp?p1=6&p2=17&p_id=25 |date=2010-10-07 }}</ref>