Overheating. Is it my config or the amp?

[zenhog]

I am running the following and need to find out why my amp keeps overheating at high (+5db) volumes. My center channel and sub are arriving tomorrow so that will change the config, but for now here's what I've got.

Denon 2807
Paradigm Monitor 11's wired in bi-amp mode
Rear - Paradigm Titans

There's plenty of space all the way around the amp and no stray speaker leads.

The amp goes into thermal protection mode - the top gets so hot you can't touch it.

I've configured it at 5channel stereo mode.

What could be causing this problem? I should be able to blow those speakers out of the cabinets with no problem, shouldn't I?

 

[mtrycrafts]

I am running the following and need to find out why my amp keeps overheating at high (+5db) volumes. ?

That should tell you something
For some reason, you are way over driving it and overheating is the result, shut down to follow and component failure soon after wards.
What SPL levels are you measuring? What size room?

 

[hemiram]

It might be doing like a couple of the receivers I've seen or like the Sony I had, with 4 speakers, it was fine, would play at earsplittling level all day, but when I added the center speaker, and put slightly larger fronts on it (SVS SBS-01's) it wouldn't play anywhere near loud without shutting down and getting very hot. The center pushed it over the edge, even with the level on it dropped down to the point it was actually too low, it was too much for it. If I removed it, it ran cool enough to keep from shutting down.

I ended up replacing it with a Yamaha RX-V659, and have no problems.

My friend's cheaper Kenwood behaved almost like my Sony, adding the center pushed it over the edge, and soon killed it. He bought an Onkyo TX-603.

 

[zenhog]

Actually I seem to have the opposite - I haven't hooked up my sub or center yet, I'm only running on 4 speakers. I don't know what is going to happen when I get the other two in-line. But I'll soon find out - they're arriving today.

I've seen some things on the interent where people have hooked up an extra fan (usually a computer component fan) to keep their unit from overheating. My question is this - why should I have to do that if the specs on my equipment (resistance, etc) are in line with that the amp should be able to handle? It's like buying a corvette but not be able to drive it over 80...

 

[jcPanny]

Speaker setup

I would try running the mains in the standard no-biamp mode. When you biamp them, one of the sections might be <4 ohms making it a difficult load for the receiver.

Also, an open back, and 2" inches above and on the sides of the receiver is usually plenty of ventalation, but a fan never hearts.

You should never need to run that receiver in the +dB volume range if it is setup properly.

 

[Nick250]

Actually I seem to have the opposite - I haven't hooked up my sub or center yet, I'm only running on 4 speakers. I don't know what is going to happen when I get the other two in-line. But I'll soon find out - they're arriving today.

I've seen some things on the interent where people have hooked up an extra fan (usually a computer component fan) to keep their unit from overheating. My question is this - why should I have to do that if the specs on my equipment (resistance, etc) are in line with that the amp should be able to handle? It's like buying a corvette but not be able to drive it over 80...

Once you have you sub in place you should be running all your speakers "small". This will take a big burden off the receiver and in all likelihood your receiver will have power to spare.

Nick

 

[zenhog]

Something interesting happened today when I added the rest of my components (center and sub). I then got a chance to run the room setup on the Denon. Something happened because now I almost can't stand the volume level when I get near zero! And of course the amp is staying pretty cool compared to earlier.

Nick - odd thing with that auto-setup feature on the Denon - it set all my speakers to "large" - fronts, center and the titans in the rear. I'm going to experiment and switch them between small and large and see how much "warmer" it sounds with the large setting...

 

[captain_tinker]

Zenhog,
What kind of sub and center channel are you adding?

-capT

 

[Nick250]

Nick - odd thing with that auto-setup feature on the Denon - it set all my speakers to "large" - fronts, center and the titans in the rear.

Audyssey auto eq does that to a lot of systems. It's a problem between Audyssey and Denon and the criteria they use whether or not to set speakers to small or large. The criteria is flawed.

The solution is to change all the speakers small and cross them over at 80Hz after you run auto set up. It's a no brain-er. Here is the link to the Audyssey discussion over at AVS. If you slog through it, you will be well versed in Denon auto set up. Chis from Audyssey has a FAQ at around post 145 which is very helpful too.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=7969145#post7969145

Nick

 

[zenhog]

I added Paradigms - the ps-1000 for the sub and the CC-350 for the center. They sound pretty good but I have to do some tweaking of the eq setup.

 

[zenhog]

Thanks Nick. I just spent a few minutes there and am headed back for some extended reading - that's got a lot of great info on it. Thanks again!

 

[zenhog]

Audyssey auto eq does that to a lot of systems. It's a problem between Audyssey and Denon and the criteria they use whether or not to set speakers to small or large. The criteria is flawed.

The solution is to change all the speakers small and cross them over at 80Hz after you run auto set up. It's a no brain-er. Here is the link to the Audyssey discussion over at AVS. If you slog through it, you will be well versed in Denon auto set up. Chis from Audyssey has a FAQ at around post 145 which is very helpful too.

http://www.avsforum.com/avs-vb/showthread.php?p=7969145#post7969145

Nick

Nick - one quick question regarding my sub (Paradigm ps-1000). There are several settings I can make on the back and I wonder what I should have them set at when I do the Audyssey calibration. They are:
Sub Level - a knob to set ranging from min to max
Sub Cut-off Frequency - a knob to set between 50hz to 150hz
Sub/Sat phase alignment - a knob to set between 0 deg to 150 degrees.

 

[Johnd]

Nick - one quick question regarding my sub (Paradigm ps-1000). There are several settings I can make on the back and I wonder what I should have them set at when I do the Audyssey calibration. They are:
Sub Level - a knob to set ranging from min to max
Sub Cut-off Frequency - a knob to set between 50hz to 150hz
Sub/Sat phase alignment - a knob to set between 0 deg to 150 degrees.

1) Set the sub's volume control in the middle to start and adjust accordingly during playback (depending on how much bass you want).
2) Set the frequency to 150 Hz and let the Denon do the work (in the setup menu).
3) Set the phase alignment to 0 for starters. Correct phase alignment is achieved when maximum bass is produced. You can do this by getting on your hands and knees (throughout the room) at various settings and adjust until you hear maximum bass. In this same vein, proper sub placement is critical...check this link http://www.audioholics.com/techtips/setup/loudspeakers/SubwooferplacementP1.php for starters. Hope that helps.

 

[Beechskier]

Equipment overheating

We have developed a product which creates a 1" airspace between and below componenets for allowing natural airflow. We designed it to go under laptop computers but find that it works on stacked components as well.

 

[fmw]

The other thing to try, of course, is to disconnect the passive biamplification. Since all the amps are running from the same power supply it is impossible to get any benefit from it. Get rid of it and see if that solves the problem.

 

[sharkman]

I would have thought that with the front speakers still bi-amped, they would be over powering the center channel speaker. I had a cc-350, it's sensitivity rating was around 91, while most Paradigm monitor speakers were in the 93-94 area.

 

[fmw]

I would have thought that with the front speakers still bi-amped, they would be over powering the center channel speaker. I had a cc-350, it's sensitivity rating was around 91, while most Paradigm monitor speakers were in the 93-94 area.

No, passive biamplification using amplifiers with shared power supply does absolutely nothing audible to the system. Nor does it affect the amount of amplifier power delivered to the speakers. Differences in sensitivity are adjusted for with the receiver's EQ program.