Should I Buy Another Fan?

[Pogre]

For my Monolith. I haven't felt it get HOT, but I've warmed it up pretty good a few times. Nothing alarming, but it's a big cabinet and it's getting pretty warm on the outside..? My only interest is prolonging the life of the amp. One of the selling points for it is a lack of a fan. It's quiet and "won't pull dust inside the unit = longer life".

So, better to have it run cooler and draw dust inside or just let it go, it's built to run warm?

If I do get another fan I'd get an ac infinity again. Nice fans and nice looking too.

 

[slipperybidness]

For my Monolith. I haven't felt it get HOT, but I've warmed it up pretty good a few times. Nothing alarming, but it's a big cabinet and it's getting pretty warm on the outside..? My only interest is prolonging the life of the amp. One of the selling points for it is a lack of a fan. It's quiet and "won't pull dust inside the unit = longer life".

So, better to have it run cooler and draw dust inside or just let it go, it's built to run warm?

If I do get another fan I'd get an ac infinity again. Nice fans and nice looking too.

I'm not really a big fan of fans

I would choose passive cooling every time! Fans are more efficient at cooling (can use smaller heat-sinks), but fans add complexity, noise, and have a relatively high failure rate (as compared to the can't-fail passive cooling). If a fan is part of the original design, then a failed fan will likely mean a failed component due to the excessive heat! Of course, you're in a different boat by adding a fan to help the passive cooling.

To my point--I choose passive cooling on my gear, and I do not add any fans to my gear. That is simply MY approach and MY philosophy. Sure, some of my gear runs a bit on the hot side. Sure, I may lose a year of service over the lifetime of the component. But, I'm OK with that.

In general, you should be able to hold your hand indefinitely on the chassis or the heat-sink if the HS fins are external. If you hold your hand on it and must remove your hand b/c it is too hot....then that is too hot and is a problem that should be addressed.

 

[lovinthehd]

I'd use my digital infrared thermometer to quantify it to start....maybe swap your avr's fan to the amp and see how effective it is.

 

[Pogre]

I'm not really a big fan of fans

I would choose passive cooling every time! Fans are more efficient at cooling (can use smaller heat-sinks), but fans add complexity, noise, and have a relatively high failure rate (as compared to the can't-fail passive cooling). If a fan is part of the original design, then a failed fan will likely mean a failed component due to the excessive heat! Of course, you're in a different boat by adding a fan to help the passive cooling.

To my point--I choose passive cooling on my gear, and I do not add any fans to my gear. That is simply MY approach and MY philosophy. Sure, some of my gear runs a bit on the hot side. Sure, I may lose a year of service over the lifetime of the component. But, I'm OK with that.

In general, you should be able to hold your hand indefinitely on the chassis or the heat-sink if the HS fins are external. If you hold your hand on it and must remove your hand b/c it is too hot....then that is too hot and is a problem that should be addressed.

It has never gotten that hot. It's never got hot enough that I couldn't lay my hand on it indefinitely, so I'm guessing that's perfectly fine? I'd rather not get a fan. my only other concern is that it only has 3" of clearance on top, but it's an open stand and the sides have plenty of room to breathe.

I'd use my digital infrared thermometer to quantify it to start....maybe swap your avr's fan to the amp and see how effective it is.

What I said above, and I'll borrow neighbor Bob's ir thermometer and see what's going on inside. Slip kinda put my mind at ease tho. I don't think I have anything to worry about.

 

[slipperybidness]

It has never gotten that hot. It's never got hot enough that I couldn't lay my hand on it indefinitely, so I'm guessing that's perfectly fine? I'd rather not get a fan. my only other concern is that it only has 3" of clearance on top, but it's an open stand and the sides have plenty of room to breathe.

What I said above, and I'll borrow neighbor Bob's ir thermometer and see what's going on inside. Slip kinda put my mind at ease tho. I don't think I have anything to worry about.

I'm just saying that if it were me, and MY gear, I wouldn't be worried about it based on your description.

However, I'm all about a quantified measurement, that is a good idea.

 

[lovinthehd]

I'm guessing unless you start playing sine waves at high levels you probably have nothing to worry about...

 

[Pogre]

I'm guessing unless you start playing sine waves at high levels you probably have nothing to worry about...

Damnit. Now my life sucks. No more sine waves at reference?! There goes a good chunk of my afternoons now. sigh...

*Edit: @slipperybidness, I'm gonna get some temp measurements either way, but I feel better about it now.

 

[lovinthehd]

Put the subwoofer down and walk away slowly, son

 

[M Code]

The MonoPrice operation manual says be sure to install the amplifier in an open space... But no actual physical dimensions are advised.. Typically one should should have at least 5-6" of free-air clearance for the L/R sides and top cover.

The MonoPrice amplifiers are well-designed (by ATI) with adequate heat-sinks but again the running temperature is dependent on hard U are driving the amplifier...

• Larger room
• Low impedance/low sensitivity loudspeakers
• Average listening level
• Source material, dynamic, amount of compresion

These all have a direct impact on temperature build-up..

Just my $0.02...

 

[WaynePflughaupt]

If I do get another fan I'd get an ac infinity again. Nice fans and nice looking too.

Are you talking about the Aircom units? Did you have one that failed? I’ve been interested in those.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

 

[Pogre]

Are you talking about the Aircom units? Did you have one that failed? I’ve been interested in those.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Yes, and I have one that works. I'm using it with my SR6011 and it works very well. If you're thinking about getting one I'd recommend.

 

[Swerd]

I'm with slipperbidness on passive cooling vs. fans.

You've posted a photo of your set up, but I can't remember the details of the shelves/cabinet where you keep your amp. Think of hot air around the amp. Does it have ways for it to escape, or is it trapped? Hot air naturally rises.

Many open shelf systems may have another shelf directly above, but with open front, sides, and back there are plenty of ways for hot air to escape. If you give hot air a way to escape and give cooler air another way to get in, passive cooling works. Even in a cabinet with closed sides and a door in front, like I have, if the door is open and there is a large opening in the back, it works.

Do you have a ceiling fan? Use it. It can probably move more air, noiselessly, than those little fans.

 

[LAB3]

I guess I am a minority here.......I use 4" fans behind all my amps, AVR and reel to reel and have done so for many years. YMMV I am retired and my gear is ON all day and into the evening. I even have a small fan blowing and the bottom vents of my 2008 55" LCD/LED TV. I can feel cooler air out of the top vents now. I had a 2007 50" plasma ( I know they run warm by design) get so hot it fried a PCB after 10 months so after that I added a fan for the Tv too. My TV and AVR are 9 years old and still going..... I better quit saying that both could go tomorrow LOL

 

[Bucknekked]

For my Monolith. I haven't felt it get HOT, but I've warmed it up pretty good a few times. Nothing alarming, but it's a big cabinet and it's getting pretty warm on the outside..? My only interest is prolonging the life of the amp. One of the selling points for it is a lack of a fan. It's quiet and "won't pull dust inside the unit = longer life".

So, better to have it run cooler and draw dust inside or just let it go, it's built to run warm?

If I do get another fan I'd get an ac infinity again. Nice fans and nice looking too.

having seen your setup in person, it would be my simple minded opinion that you are fine.
No worries at all. Your Monolith will play for many many years with no heat issues.

1. You have headroom around and to the sides for free airflow
2. you have it installed in a large room: no heat islands I could sense. Good airflow.
3. you keep your static air temp in the mid 70's, plenty cool for operations
4 You actually care ! I can't overstate how much interest and caring will eliminate oversites

The last thing I would say is that you never play the amp very loud. So listening to it at "sunday afternoon tea" volumes will also extend its life.

 

[Verdinut]

For my Monolith. I haven't felt it get HOT, but I've warmed it up pretty good a few times. Nothing alarming, but it's a big cabinet and it's getting pretty warm on the outside..? My only interest is prolonging the life of the amp. One of the selling points for it is a lack of a fan. It's quiet and "won't pull dust inside the unit = longer life".

So, better to have it run cooler and draw dust inside or just let it go, it's built to run warm?

If I do get another fan I'd get an ac infinity again. Nice fans and nice looking too.

If you don't feel comfortable with the heat from the Monolith, you can just get a pair of AC Infinity fans from the Airplate Series which are less expensive than an Aircom unit. They come with a plate which you can screw to the outside of the cabinet.

Are you talking about the Aircom units? Did you have one that failed? I’ve been interested in those.

Regards,
Wayne A. Pflughaupt

Hi Wayne,
I use several AC Infinity fans to cool my Marantz SR5010 AVR.
Those AC Infinity fans are doing their job very well and are well built indeed. Amazon have a wide assortment of their products at a very affordable price.
You can also get a thermostatic controller which informs you of the overall performance. I have one and it is well designed with several possible configurations. You can program a realistic temperature target.
Recommended without hesitation whatsoever.

I take the opportunity to congratulate you for your very informative article relating to Gain Structure on the Home Theater Shack website.

Regards,
André

 

[Pogre]

If you don't feel comfortable with the heat from the Monolith, you can just get a pair of AC Infinity fans from the Airplate Series which are less expensive than an Aircom unit. They come with a plate which you can screw to the outside of the cabinet.

Now that's not a bad idea. Just get a little airflow going through the cabinet without sucking all the dust into the Monolith's chassis.

 

[lovinthehd]

Now that's not a bad idea. Just get a little airflow going through the cabinet without sucking all the dust into the Monolith's chassis.

Hmmm seems my electronics even without fans tend to get plenty of dust inside over time....

 

[Verdinut]

QSC Audio use fans and install their electronic boards upside down on most of their products exactly to prevent dust from setting on the components and prevent humidity and heat to accumulate. What an intelligent procedure.

 

[Verdinut]

I guess I am a minority here.......I use 4" fans behind all my amps, AVR and reel to reel and have done so for many years. YMMV I am retired and my gear is ON all day and into the evening. I even have a small fan blowing and the bottom vents of my 2008 55" LCD/LED TV. I can feel cooler air out of the top vents now. I had a 2007 50" plasma ( I know they run warm by design) get so hot it fried a PCB after 10 months so after that I added a fan for the Tv too. My TV and AVR are 9 years old and still going..... I better quit saying that both could go tomorrow LOL

Your 2007 Plasma TV did not have a fan, but my Panasonic 2009 50 inch Plasma TV has 2 built-in fans and it's still working like new.