2. amps-preamps
  3. 981865537

Ringing heatsinks

One of my current amplifiers is a Classe' CA300 and while performing a cable swap, I accidently hit the heatsink with my finger nail and it rang like a tuning fork. I tried the same manuever with an older Classe' DR8 amp and it didn't ring like that. Then I wondered what effect this had on the sound of the amp since the transistors are mounted to the other side of the heat sink. I inserted a rolled up towell on either side of the amp between the shelf and the heat sinks and on top of the heat sinks rested some pieces of mdf wood to dampen the ringing. This does not pose a heat problem with the CA300 as the fins run pretty cool. The sonic change is very noticeable eliminating a glare in the treble and a vast improvement in focus through the vocal regions. The overall presentation is smoother and more lifelike. I'd like to hear from anyone else with a CA 300/400 or another brand with ringing heat sinks as to whether they find any improvement in the damping I've suggested.
rhljazz

Showing 1 response by sean

sean
6,231 posts
 
Michael Green of MGD fame spoke to me about this during a conversation. While he wasn't specifically talking about Classe' amps, he mentioned that things of this nature DO greatly contribute to the sonics of components. In one specific case, he was brought in by an un-named manufacturer or electronics as a consultant. It seems that they were intrigued by his theories and wanted to see what "knowledge" he could pass onto them in terms of improving their products. I guess that they had a nagging problem with a specific amp sounding "metalic" and having a ringing or "glare" problem. Michael told them to "re-resonate" their heatsinks and the problem would disappear. The only thing that "disappeared" was Michael out the door. The electrical engineers just about shoved him out of the place at a high rate of speed. I guess that they thought his theory was just a little "bunk". Sean
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