It's very rare for an audiophile amplifier to have a fan. They use large heat sinks to avoid the fan noise. I only know of Hafler amps using a fan. Pro amps do too but that's all.
Educating Myself About Fan Noise
Until I owned a Dynaco 400 (200 WPC) Vintage Solid State Amp, I don't think I had ever given this issue any thought.
If I unhook the fan, it does get a bit too hot, so I have to plug it back in. I've had some recommendations to try quieter fans, but I am very do-it-yourself averse, and I am very extraneous-noise averse, so I am thinking of simply trying to buy a new two-channel amp.
Putting aside all the other issues we could discuss (what is my system, budget, etc.), I think my interest here is just really to understand a bit better an issue that I'd never really given much thought to. Do many amps, tube or solid state, have this fan noise issue once they get "up there" in power?
I do think I would like good power for this particular speaker setup and am leaning toward solid state. I'm fine buying some less expensive "decent" sounding equipment, but when I read about it I don't know if the owners are putting up with fan noise and not even telling me.
I guess I just would like to narrow down, when I read about some of that equipment, how much of it has this fan noise that it brings with it.
I have a 70 WPC Arcam integrated amp that I use in another purpose, and this allows me to hear some good things (I've never owned a lot of super-duper hi-fi, though my speakers are considered good), even if it's not super-powerful, and it does not have a fan, but rather some modest-sized heat distribution in the back.
If I unhook the fan, it does get a bit too hot, so I have to plug it back in. I've had some recommendations to try quieter fans, but I am very do-it-yourself averse, and I am very extraneous-noise averse, so I am thinking of simply trying to buy a new two-channel amp.
Putting aside all the other issues we could discuss (what is my system, budget, etc.), I think my interest here is just really to understand a bit better an issue that I'd never really given much thought to. Do many amps, tube or solid state, have this fan noise issue once they get "up there" in power?
I do think I would like good power for this particular speaker setup and am leaning toward solid state. I'm fine buying some less expensive "decent" sounding equipment, but when I read about it I don't know if the owners are putting up with fan noise and not even telling me.
I guess I just would like to narrow down, when I read about some of that equipment, how much of it has this fan noise that it brings with it.
I have a 70 WPC Arcam integrated amp that I use in another purpose, and this allows me to hear some good things (I've never owned a lot of super-duper hi-fi, though my speakers are considered good), even if it's not super-powerful, and it does not have a fan, but rather some modest-sized heat distribution in the back.
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- 9 posts total
- 9 posts total