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  1. #1
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    Does actively cooling a Class A amp negatively or positively affect the sound?

    I’ve been wondering about this for a while.

    I have a couple of smaller solid state Class A running amps that I’m using for my Duo XD speakers.

    Depending on the amp and where the output devices are located, I’ll run a little fan on top drawing hot air out or underneath cooling the bottom.

    Do Class A amps need to run hot to sound their best? Does cooling the amp off a little affect the sound for better or worse? Does cooling the amp a little help make it sound better?

    I’m curious what everyone thinks about this and if you know if any testing has been done.
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  2. #2
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    Re: Does actively cooling a Class A amp negatively or positively affect the sound?

    Joe

    Does the Valvet run as hot as the XA-25 or about the same?
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  3. #3
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    Re: Does actively cooling a Class A amp negatively or positively affect the sound?

    The Valvet E2 runs very hot on the bottom. Hotter than the XA25. I can barely touch it if I don’t cool it. But it sounds fabulous. 12wpc Class A at 8 ohms.
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  4. #4
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    Does actively cooling a Class A amp negatively or positively affect the sound?

    Joe, have you tried raising the chassis on any kind of isolation feet just to get an extra half inch or so under the chassis? Or do you think it makes a difference at all to raise it for more airflow?
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  5. #5
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    Re: Does actively cooling a Class A amp negatively or positively affect the sound?

    Main - JVC QL-Y7/Denon DL-301 Mk II, Gold Note PH-10, Jays CDT3 Mk3 , Auralic Aries G2.2, Holo May KTE, Supratek Cabernet, Kinki Studio EX-B7 monoblocks, Verity Audio Otello, (2) Rythmik F12SE, Audio Envy IC, SC & PC's, Triode Wire Lab PC's, Inakustik USB and I2S, (2) Puritan Audio Labs PSM-156 with Groundmaster City, Timbernation rack

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  6. #6

    Re: Does actively cooling a Class A amp negatively or positively affect the sound?

    I have not tested it, but it is my understanding that class A amps do not need the heat for the sound, it rather is a by-product of 80% of operating energy dissipating as heat through the heatsinks in class A operation.

    That said, it might not be that simple: E.g. Pass amps I used to own did not operate at their full sound potential before being properly warmed up.


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  7. #7
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    Re: Does actively cooling a Class A amp negatively or positively affect the sound?

    Quote Originally Posted by MikeCh View Post
    Joe, have you tried raising the chassis on any kind of isolation feet just to get an extra half inch or so under the chassis? Or do you think it makes a difference at all to raise it for more airflow?
    It’s a little cooler raised up but not much.

    What I’m curious about is if everyone thinks the sound of Class A amps change with the overall temperature of the unit?
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  8. #8
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    Re: Does actively cooling a Class A amp negatively or positively affect the sound?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jack View Post
    I have one of these. They work great.
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  9. #9
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    Re: Does actively cooling a Class A amp negatively or positively affect the sound?

    Quote Originally Posted by Kuoppis View Post
    I have not tested it, but it is my understanding that class A amps do not need the heat for the sound, it rather is a by-product of 80% of operating energy dissipating as heat through the heatsinks in class A operation.

    That said, it might not be that simple: E.g. Pass amps I used to own did not operate at their full sound potential before being properly warmed up.


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    I agree. Getting class A amps too cool, in my opinion, don’t sound as good.
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  10. #10
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    Re: Does actively cooling a Class A amp negatively or positively affect the sound?

    Quote Originally Posted by joeinid View Post
    I agree. Getting class A amps too cool, in my opinion, don’t sound as good.
    I got to the point of, it is what it is. It's warm but not egg frying hot.
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  11. #11
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    Does actively cooling a Class A amp negatively or positively affect the sound?

    Heat can be the ultimate destroyer of componentry. I don't think there's anything wrong using a small, low CFM & quiet fan to supplement cooling. You won't cool the amp enough to make a sonic difference but by running a small fan blowing or sucking heat away from an amp (increasing convection) you should increase the life of the gear by removing excess heat.
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  12. #12
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    Re: Does actively cooling a Class A amp negatively or positively affect the sound?

    Thank you Mike. That’s my thinking as well. Amps like the SIT3 are limited, so I’d like to make it last.
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  13. #13

    Re: Does actively cooling a Class A amp negatively or positively affect the sound?

    High school physics and basic electronics already have the answer I would think= Heat is enemy number one of electronics. Cooling a class A amp should NOT degrade the sound much less do anything to the sound (unless you don't want the amp to last very long). Excessive heat will degrade the sound faster or a noisy fan, which is an easier less costly fix. It's all nice until a capacitor starts sweating, then POP, game over.
    Another question is how long it takes to reach egg-frying temperature? If it is a very short time, say 15 minutes or less, then I suspect an additional issue such as poor design or build.
    Just my opinion.

  14. #14
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    Re: Does actively cooling a Class A amp negatively or positively affect the sound?

    All the amps take a while to heat up. And typically the longer they have been on, the better they sound. That’s been my experience as well as others I know.

    Even Pass Labs states to give the amps plenty of ventilation.
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  15. #15

    Re: Does actively cooling a Class A amp negatively or positively affect the sound?

    Quote Originally Posted by joeinid View Post
    All the amps take a while to heat up. And typically the longer they have been on, the better they sound. That’s been my experience as well as others I know.

    Even Pass Labs states to give the amps plenty of ventilation.
    Yes, all amps require plenty of ventilation. I had a Denon 4520ci AVR that was class B and you could cook on it after an hour if you did not cool it. at about the 1 hour and 15 minute mark it would shut down to try to protect itself. Of course, I always had it cool because I also believe that once an amp gets to that point there is a good change some damage may have already been done.

    I personally don't buy into the warm up leads to better sound theory for solid state devices. In my experience, there is no difference in solid state amps between "cold" and "warmed up". To me, that is a good thing, there should not be a difference. Tubes and mechanical devices are a different story though. Just my take.

  16. #16
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    Re: Does actively cooling a Class A amp negatively or positively affect the sound?

    Components do have an optimal temperature range, and can behave differently as the the temperature changes. Overheating is a problem that is easily avoided with sufficient ventilation at normal room temperatures or a fan, especially if the fan has a temperature sensor like the AC Infinity products. Overcooling is extremely unlikely to be an issue.
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    Re: Does actively cooling a Class A amp negatively or positively affect the sound?

    Good topic, Joe. I’ve wondered the same thing myself. I’ll be interested to see what people say about it.
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  18. #18
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    Does actively cooling a Class A amp negatively or positively affect the sound?

    What does the hottest area of the chassis read from something like a digital candy thermometer? I ran an Audio Research 100.2 for a couple of years and eventually I just could not take the heat. 150w at idle. Without ventilation the heat sinks down each side of the amplifier would reach 135°F. With active muffin fan (16 CFM that was darn near silent) ventilation it would drop that number to about 115°F.

    It seems strange to me for a designer to place the output transistors or heat sinks on the bottom of an amplifier since heat rises.
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    Re: Does actively cooling a Class A amp negatively or positively affect the sound?

    Quote Originally Posted by Jack View Post
    Wow, surprisingly inexpensive!

    I know that my Audio Mirrors sound a lot better after 30-45 minutes. I do believe most of that is stabilizing the tubes. After that warm up time I do not notice a difference. I can not imagine a little cooling being an issue after they have warmed and the tubes stabilized. The heat sinks get toastier than the tubes .
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  20. #20
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    Re: Does actively cooling a Class A amp negatively or positively affect the sound?

    Quote Originally Posted by Oly View Post
    Good topic, Joe. I’ve wondered the same thing myself. I’ll be interested to see what people say about it.

    Thank you Gary. It’s one thing I’ve never really seen discussed.



    Quote Originally Posted by MikeCh View Post
    What does the hottest area of the chassis read from something like a digital candy thermometer? I ran an Audio Research 100.2 for a couple of years and eventually I just could not take the heat. 150w at idle. Without ventilation the heat sinks down each side of the amplifier would reach 135°F. With active muffin fan (16 CFM that was darn near silent) ventilation it would drop that number to about 115°F.

    It seems strange to me for a designer to place the output transistors or heat sinks on the bottom of an amplifier since heat rises.
    Next time the Valvet is in the system, I’ll take a reading. Typically my other amps reach 120-130 F. I have not measured the SIT3 but right where the output devices are in the middle of each heat sink, it damn hot.
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  21. #21
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    Re: Does actively cooling a Class A amp negatively or positively affect the sound?

    Quote Originally Posted by Randy Myers View Post
    Wow, surprisingly inexpensive!

    I know that my Audio Mirrors sound a lot better after 30-45 minutes. I do believe most of that is stabilizing the tubes. After that warm up time I do not notice a difference. I can not imagine a little cooling being an issue after they have warmed and the tubes stabilized. The heat sinks get toastier than the tubes .
    Randy,

    It does a great job but is not totally silent. Even at the lowest setting, there's a little noise but it's not a problem. I would love a variable speed fan and control it myself but I will rig up my own thing just keep air flowing at a quiet pace.
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  22. #22
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    Re: Does actively cooling a Class A amp negatively or positively affect the sound?

    Quote Originally Posted by joeinid View Post
    Next time the Valvet is in the system, I’ll take a reading. Typically my other amps reach 120-130 F. I have not measured the SIT3 but right where the output devices are in the middle of each heat sink, it damn hot.
    I remember when I had the F6 and it got dang hot also. If I am recalling correctly I think the heat sinks on the First Watt and the Audio Mirror were probably about the same. Hot, but not to a point where my hand would instantly get burnt ...
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    Re: Does actively cooling a Class A amp negatively or positively affect the sound?

    Quote Originally Posted by joeinid View Post
    Randy,

    It does a great job but is not totally silent. Even at the lowest setting, there's a little noise but it's not a problem. I would love a variable speed fan and control it myself but I will rig up my own thing just keep air flowing at a quiet pace.
    The little T+A amp has a small fan on the bottom that is controlled by an on-board micro processor. I think they do this because the case is so small that the thick Aluminum top and bottom may not be able to keep it cool under every circumstance. I have never once heard it running when I have been using the amplifier. They claim it is so quite that you will never hear it.
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  24. #24

    Re: Does actively cooling a Class A amp negatively or positively affect the sound?

    Quote Originally Posted by Randy Myers View Post
    Wow, surprisingly inexpensive!

    .
    Yes surprising indeed! I'm running a long discontinued Parasound Zbreeze that is just now barely starting to get noisy on the lowest setting, Probably at least 3 or 4 months before it gets really annoying, but ACinfinity units are nice for the money provided they are quieter than the Zbreeze. I may just go ahead and pull the trigger on one to replace the Zbreeze. I like the T units with the read out and all, but $110 is a bit much,...still though....? The $49 ones are probably more than fine, but I do like the display...gonna have to think on this one.

  25. #25
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    Re: Does actively cooling a Class A amp negatively or positively affect the sound?

    Good topic Joe. I had a fan ventilate my Luxman Class A integrated amp when I had it and didn’t notice any drop off in sonics compared to without. That said it didn’t move a ton of air and probably didn’t keep it dramatically cooler.

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  26. #26
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    Re: Does actively cooling a Class A amp negatively or positively affect the sound?

    Thank you Warren.

    The acinfinity cooling fans really do cool the gear down, almost too much

    In the winter now, I love the extra heat in my room. Come the summer, I'll be in trouble, maybe need the air conditioning on a little earlier. Ugh!
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  27. #27
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    Re: Does actively cooling a Class A amp negatively or positively affect the sound?

    Quote Originally Posted by joeinid View Post
    I’ve been wondering about this for a while.

    I have a couple of smaller solid state Class A running amps that I’m using for my Duo XD speakers.

    Depending on the amp and where the output devices are located, I’ll run a little fan on top drawing hot air out or underneath cooling the bottom.

    Do Class A amps need to run hot to sound their best? Does cooling the amp off a little affect the sound for better or worse? Does cooling the amp a little help make it sound better?

    I’m curious what everyone thinks about this and if you know if any testing has been done.
    To answer your questions
    a class amp technically gets cool while being used as it's bias gets to move away from
    class power draw. But how much the amp is in class and the load of the amp in imp ,and loudness shown in speaker eff matters
    my amps don't run hot to the touch but it's due to design. They do heat up my room
    the amps do need to be warm as this allows for bias to sound best.
    If I turn on my amps cold it's bad yet they are biased right.
    I keep a silent fan on top of each tower not for output devices but the regulation devices on top.
    Heat may be part of great sound but it's not good for any parts in the amp.
    Worse is caps inside.
    TUBEZATOR

    preamp ML26
    amps ML No.33
    Infinity IRS-V speakers with Xover redone by Arie Nudell.




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Does actively cooling a Class A amp negatively or positively affect the sound?

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