How hot does the Ayre EX-8 2.0 Integrated Amplifier get?

My Ayre retailer reports the additional vents on the Ayre EX-8 2.0 provide the heat to escape out of the top of the chassis and should work fine in my Salamander SYNERGY Model 237 cabinet.   He suggests 6” of clearance above the amp and  5” clearance on each side.  All back cabinet panels have been removed.  

My retailer said their demo Ayre EX-8 2.0 amp runs cooler as result of the additional vents.  I hope to audition the amp on Friday.  The list price for the 2.0 version is $6,450.  The unit includes 3 Ayre Myrtle wooden blocks to be placed under the amp.   This should help cool the bottom of the amp.  

My retailer also said that if a cooling fan was required, it could be placed behind the amp attached to the brackets on the cabinet.   He doubts a fan will be required.  

I auditioned the Ayre EX-8 2.0 integrated amplifier this morning.   The retailer left the amp on all night and the top was warm and not hot.  There are 2 large vents on the top for cooling.  I was very impressed with its sound quality meaning it was like my previous Ayre AX-7e amp but even better (lots).

Ayre reports they "added the extra ventilation to the unit and with the extra devices, it brought the temperature down considerably, particularly on the front of the unit (and I agree).  Their 2.0 upgrade doubled the number of output devices and capacitance for the output stage of the amplifier.  Ayre reports the more capacitance, the better, and the doubled number of devices helps the EX-8 drive harder-to-drive and lower ohm speakers more effortlessly and lets their benefits shine.  Ayre also optimized several places in the Diamond circuit that we discovered after first releasing the EX-8 that overall improves the sound.  In all, the EX-8 simply sounds like it has more power better range.  Bass feels stronger and the mids clearer without losing any of the resolution it had".   The Ayre EX-8 2.0 is an excellent sounding amplifier.  

I also auditioned the Ayre AX-5 Twenty integrated amplifier and it sounded even better.   The sound quality was very impressive meaning clear, musical and I liked it very much.   I felt this amp was MUCH better sounding than the amp I was using in my main audio system.  I continued to listen to the Ayre AX-5 Twenty integrated amplifier and purchased it to replace my SimAudio 700iV2 integrated amp. The Ayre AX-5 Twenty sounded better than my SimAudio amp.  Delivery time is 6-8 weeks.

My SimAudio 340i integrated amp is staying in my 2nd audio system and I am making no changes.  These funds are better spent upgrading my main audio system.

Can the Ayre EX-8 2.0 Integrated Amplifier be left on 24/7 or should the ampliifer be placed in sleep mode when not in use?   Ayre specifications say '60 watts in operating mode'.   Thanks...

I scanned the Ayre EX-8 2.0 manual and discovered some interesting information.  

After 30 minutes of no activity, the amplifier will shut down its output stage.  As soon as the amplifier receives an input signal, it will start up again.  

I just received my Ayre EX-8 2.0 amp and it is breaking in. I changed my amp settings so the amp will go into sleep mode after 30 minutes. It does not work. I powered down my amp for 30 minutes and restarted it.
 

After 30 minutes, my amp did not go into sleep mode as per their manual. Am I missing a setting or something?  Obviously, I will contact my retailer on Tuesday. Any thoughts?  

My retailer confirms the sleep/low power mode (push left button on front of the amp) is an option when not listening. In addition, in the Ayre manual (one of the many settings), there is a setting that, when enabled, places the amp in a low power mode after 30-minutes of no input (manual page 24).

The enable option automatically disables the audio circuitry when a selected input remains inactive after 30-minutes. As soon as the input becomes active again. the audio circuitry is automatically re-enabled. My Ayre EX-8 2.0 amp is still breaking in so I cannot judge its sounds quality. The Ayre manual says 100 to 500 hours are required for the amp to break-in. I hope this helps......