HK AVR335 fan noise?

[cochese]

I'm trying to decide between the HK AVR235 and AVR335. I'd prefer to get the 335, but the 235 will cover what I need. From what I can tell, the AVR235 has no internal fan, whereas the AVR335 *does* have a fan. Are there any AVR335 (or 435, 635, 7300) owners out there who can tell me if you have experienced the "fan noise" i've heard mentioned here and there?

Any help is appreciated.

 

[Fife]

It might only come on when the volume levels are high and continuous. Meaning, you may not ever actually hear it.

 

[zumbo]

Nope, not ganna hear it.

 

[cochese]

Ok right on. Thanks for the replies. You guys have this receiver?

 

[Fife]

I just got an HK 235 last night. I have only just started to get it setup right ( I've been too busy). So far I like it but I'm reserving judgement. I didn't want to spend too much because I think HDMI ports will soon be a really important feature for a receiver. The HK doesn't have these. I got a decent deal from Vanns.com.

Good Luck

 

[zumbo]

Ok right on. Thanks for the replies. You guys have this receiver?

No. But the fan noise I think you have heard "here and there" would be about pro-amps. Unless you have heard this about this unit. And if you did, I would not worry about it. Sounds like BS to me.

 

[cochese]

I read something about the AVR330 or 430 a while back on another forum. This being the 2nd or 3rd generation of this receiver, I would think they would have worked out these kinds of details anyway. I'm going to go with the AVR335. I'll post back here with my thoughts....

 

[cochese]

And if I seem overly paranoid, its because I used to buy all Sony equipment and I've been burned...I had a DVD player die 2 days after the 1 year warranty (almost as if a timer expired) and my receiver has had its quirks when it gets hot. I don't mind spending the money, but I don't want to if I'm going to have issues like I did with my sony junk...err equipment. I welcome a fan, as it will keep things cool, just so long as I can't hear it.

I get a great deal on HK (and infinity) stuff so its kind of a no brainer if their stuff is truly quality equipment. The models I've demo'd sounded great, but there are somethings (like fan noise) that you can't really tell when you're at the store.

 

[zumbo]

I hear you on the Sony junk. I have said it before, I am not a Sony fan. If you are away from the receiver while in use, there will be no way I would think you could hear the fan. And if you had the system low enough to hear the fan, it probably would not be on.

 

[crashguy]

My receiver is mounted in a relatively tight space. I installed a 12V computer fan (3") on top of the receiver, near the back. I have it standing on edge (not laying flat on top of the unit) blowing from the back of the unitout towards the front. I power it using a 9V converter, so it slows the fan speed down enough that you can not hear it ever from a listening position. This fan is not really to cool the receiver, it has it's own fan for that. This fan is there just to move the warm air out that builds up around the receiver as there is very limited natural circulation in my installation. The fan install is visible in one of my photos I posted of my system.

On the internal fan of your H/K; I don't have any H/K equipment, but I have never noticed a fan noise from my 2 fan cooled receivers unless I put my ear up right on the unit for the purpose of trying to hear if it is running.

Note that fans will become much noisier as they accumulate dust on them, and they become unbalanced (as in - balancing a tire).

 

[armaraas]

I have had the 235 for over a week now, and in the manual under troubleshooting there is a question about the fan not working and it says the fan will only come on if necessary when the receiver gets too hot. Assuming that it isn't a misprint, I think the 235 has an internal fan as well. I have pushed the receiver enough to get it to shutdown and go into protect mode, and the receiver was not even that warm to the touch. I suspect it may have to do with my speakers more than the unit overheating. I don't think you will need to worry about the fan.

 

[crashguy]

I have pushed the receiver enough to get it to shutdown and go into protect mode, and the receiver was not even that warm to the touch. I suspect it may have to do with my speakers more than the unit overheating. I don't think you will need to worry about the fan.

....Atta boy....bag drive that baby!!!

 

[armaraas]

Well, I wasn't actually trying to test it's limit. I was only at -10db, and from what I have seen from others that hasn't caused problems on other receivers, so I was shocked this one shuts down so quickly, within 3 minutes.
-10 isn't unbearable, but definitely louder than what I would normally listen to it at. But it still doesn't seem like it should happen that easily to me.

 

[crashguy]

What kind of speakers are you running to cause it to shut down so easily? What kind of music/movie were you listening to?

 

[armaraas]

I was listening to heavy rock, stereo mode. My main speakers are Cambridge Soundworks Tower IIs. I checked the manual earlier in the week and they are 6 ohm, but I wouldn't think 6 ohm would shut it down that easily. I did test it out in 5 channel stereo, I was able to push it to 0db for a bit without any problem, and the receiver was getting pretty hot at that point. I am not sure if that means anything or not, but I am planning on checking the wiring next for the two mains. The only other difference I can think of is that I turned the subwoofer off during the 5 channel test, but I can't imagine that would have anything to do without since it's just connected to the preout.

 

[crashguy]

Turning the sub on/off may effect if the low bass is sent to your mains or not. And remember a 6 ohm rating on a speaker is kinda a guess, or an average. Those 6 ohmers could drop to below 4 in some of the range.

 

[zumbo]

And, the receiver is not made to jam in 5-channel mode. That is for low volume for when you have background music on.

 

[armaraas]

Yah, response from HK support was that it was the speaker ohms dropping too low. I did do some more research looking for old reviews of my speakers and I did find a users review who referenced a professional review where they stated that 6 ohms was pretty generous for these speakers because they do drop to 4 and below pretty easily. So I guess I will not needlessly push them beyond tolerant volumes. I'm just glad there is an explanation and nothing wrong with the receiver.

 

[dripstone]

AVR 335 fan noise

I'm trying to decide between the HK AVR235 and AVR335. I'd prefer to get the 335, but the 235 will cover what I need. From what I can tell, the AVR235 has no internal fan, whereas the AVR335 *does* have a fan. Are there any AVR335 (or 435, 635, 7300) owners out there who can tell me if you have experienced the "fan noise" i've heard mentioned here and there?

Any help is appreciated.

I recently bought an AVR 335 and have never heard the fan noise. I know it has one but I have never heard it. The only time the fan might kick on is if you've got it turned way up for long periods of time or if you've got it in a poorly ventilated area (like a cabinet). Either way you probably wouldn't hear it.

 

[cochese]

In replying to my original post, I went with the AVR335. Its in a semi-enclosed space right now, and I put my ear up to it while it was hot. The fan was indeed on, but 5 feet away, I couldn't hear it, its a very quiet fan and I'm not in the least worried about it becoming annoying.