Can you put an amp between shelves?


I have a DNA 225, which is in the top most rack, due to concerns of heat and the like. I know that most manufactures ask us to give as much breathing room as possible and yet I have seen systems that have amplifiers sandwiched in between shelves, without what it seems much room to breathe. The top shelf is a premium space to things like top loading CD player or record players. Therefore, I ask people with experience to explain the effects of having an amp between rack, without much top room to breathe. I have read people with tube amps, such as the SF Power 2s, that the heat makes the sound sluggish. Obviously my amp is not a tube amp nor is an amp that is biased Class A, so I wonder.

Some links to systems that I am wondering about....

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?vopin&1048633691&read&3&4&
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?vopin&1072560776&read&3&4&
http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?vopin&1080596606&read&3&4&
http://cgim.audiogon.com/i/vs/i/t/1080191693.jpg

Thanks for any input on this topic.
bemopti123
I spoke with Steve McCormack about this issue recently. In fact, I originally e-mailed Steve, and he called me personally to discuss the topic because he believed it was important.

Steve was adamant about the amplifier (DNA-2 Deluxe Rev. A+) having sufficient room to "breath" and dissipate heat. The DNA-2 gets pretty warm, though not hot. As I recall, 6" minimum all around was the minimum requirement, and he wasn't thrilled with the amp being in a cabinet even with perforated sides and open back, although he said the addition of a small fan to circulate air around the amp would be beneficial and allow placement in a cabinet. He said the amp would operate properly if it got hot, but over time the excess heat would prematurely wear the electronics leading to a shortened life span of the amp.

The requirements for your amp may vary due to the lower power output, and smaller dimensions, but the concept remains the same...room for air to circulate around the amp and dissipate heat.
Well said. In addition to WAF and overheating the listening room reasons, I decided to suspend my Aleph 2 monos in well-perforated plastic milk crates on hanging racks bolted to my floor joists in the basement, under my speakers, thus providing upward convection cooling, a lower ambient temperature, and use of long XLRs and short speaker cables. My PoBoxSW allows remote powering via a toe-operated toggle on the carpet under my rack.
Electronic component life is correlated to the 5th power of temperature (or is it voltage?), if I recall. So keep it cool!