I use an ARC VT-100 in my entertainment center. The VT-100 has an internal fan, 8x6550C Power tubes and 8x6922 small signal tubes... I added 2 muffin fans suspended by fishing line, one blowing in at the bottom of the amp, and another blowing out at the top. I made a custom shelf with the center cut out to improve air flow, set the shelf above where the lower fan is blowing, and I think the amp runs cooler than sitting on a shelf in open air.
Audio Research vs. Aragon
I'm in the market to add a serious 2 channel amp in addition to an existing 5 ch. Adcom, as my new house has a large great room approx. 20'x 30' with 10' ceilings. I'll be driving a pair of B&W DM-640i's backed up by a 12" Paradigm PS-1200 powered sub, controlled by an Acurus ACT-3 pre-pro, and connected with Audio Stream cables and interconnects. I'm mainly an audiophile (jazz), but enjoy home theater every now and then. I was very close to buying the Aragon 8008BB (200 w/ch) for $2,400 when a recent visit to my local high end dealer uncovered a totally reconditioned and re-tubed Audio Research D-115 (130 w/ch?) for $1,500. I auditioned it on a pair of B&W CDM 7NT's. It sounds great, but I'm concerned about the excessive heat that tubes produce as it will probably go inside of an open back entertainment unit. Which way should I go? Any advice would be much appreciated.