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Tandberg 3012 - Hot fins

Hello guys,

I recently stated using a vintage Tandberg 3012 integrated amp and noticed that the cooling fins located on the left side of the amp in the area of transistors (4 each) gets very hot (almost to hot to touch). The amp works great and sounds superb but I am wondering if this heat issue is normal or if it may later become a problem or is indicating that something is soon to fail. I used the amp this winter with a cooler room temperature and the heat in the reported area was definitely not as high. I just want to know if this is normal for this amp.

Thanks,
sympaticonorm
mcintech
115 posts
 
I would venture to say that if this is a dual mono amp, (having 4 transistors and an identical heat sink on the other side), and if the other channel's heatsink is not the same temperature, that you have a bias issue or a component failure somewhere.
If that heatsink is the only one and all O/P devices are on it, then it could be normal.

Nonetheless, if an amp is over 10 years old, bias current and DC Offset need to be measured before usage.
rrog
1,958 posts
 
It would be helpful to know what speakers you are driving with this amplifier. If your Tandberg 3012 is running hot I doubt you are driving Klipsch speakers at a moderate level. So, tell us what your speakers are and how many pairs of speakers you are driving at the same time.
sympaticonorm OP
103 posts
 
I am using it with Proac 3.8 speakers at low levels (I hate loud music). This winter, I was using it for a couple weeks with Proac 2 speakers. I will be going back to my CJ MV60SE amp soon. I am just playing around with my equipment.
rrog
1,958 posts
 
I have owned a lot of Tandberg equipment over the years and some of their models can run quite warm. If it sounds good and the channels are balanced I wouldn't worry about it. Just make sure there is plenty of ventilation and you should be ok. The amplifier's protection includes a thermo trip, which will operate if the temperature inside the amplifier rises above normal operating value.

Is the amplifier a 3012 or 3012A?
hotmailjbc
571 posts
 
i sold tandberg retail and they did get hot. i also was concerned and just kept everything well ventilated and used a fan. i also had a music fidelity integrated that got so hot you could only touch the top for a second or two and it did finaly die. after 10 years. few things last forever especially electronics. i would get a fan and monitor the heat. and i would check out for dust if there is any.i am sure you have already done that but i just had a year old laptop fail and when i opened it up the amount of dust was impressive. i love my tandberg reel to reel and casette decks and we also sold nakamichi for what thats worth. thank you
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