Heat in class A equipment


Heat is one of the biggest enemies of electronic equipment. Does anyone know if this Heat is only at the output transistors and their heatsinks o8is it also present in other components within the unit. 

 

I was planning to remove the top cover and with a IR thermometer going to check temps..

 

Has anyone done this? 

vanson1

I have a JC5 that I keep inside a cabinet.  When I first got it, it ran really hot.  I think there was not enough space around the unit to circulate any air.   Then I bought one of these and put it on top, and it really helps.  It's also very quiet.  Great company to deal with. 

Heat is a real problem. It takes a long time to fully warm up and sound good. 

Does it help to wave your thermal runaway gun at things? Have you tried voice coils? What is the hottest chip inside your DAC? Have you tried a cooling fan? How hot does the motor on the cooling fan get? Did you buy the thermal gun thingy just for this? Or did you already have it for some useful purpose?

I had a Threshold 4000 amp(ClassA) for nearly 40 y...recapped once, never a single problem....only recapped as a precaution....Nelson Pass claims capacitor life much longer than many say....currently using Pass Labs X250.8...it does improve as it warms up, so I routinely turn it on about 30 m before listening....the amp runs warm to touch,NOT HOT, and of course the temp equilibrates throughout the unit....it is designed for that heat, and I have no doubt its life span will equal my prior Pass design.....

Hi XCool

I do like that cooling device and at only 25db you can't hear that at all. 

Hi Millercarbon

I have seen many of your posts and they are always well thought out.  Not sure about your comment about IR thermometers but they have lots of uses in both automotive and many electrical purposes.  A good one will only cost about $100 and lots of useful purposes. 

Always thanks for your insights and audio on!