Should a dac run hot??

Magfan:

You are correct. I was trying to keep it simple but should have written "all things being equal."

100 amp tube amplifier = Hot
100 amp Class A = less Hot
100 amp Digital = almost always the coolest.

Dave

Warm, yes.

Hot, no.

The amount of heat generated is directly related to the electrical efficiency of the device. As an example look at amplifiers. Tubes are very inefficient and very hot, that's why many come with a cage to keep fingers and cats from being burned. Solid state amps are more electrically efficient and have fans and/or heat sink fins to dissipate heat. Digital amps are the most efficient and run cool to barely warm to the touch.

My Chord DAC-64 runs warmer to the touch than my Wyred 4 Sound multichannel amp.

Dave