Air gap above Onkyo 806

[Andy H]

Hi all,

I've just replaced my old amp with a Onkyo 806 and with this being a larger amp it will not fit in my rack. I have shuffled this around for now and it now sits on top of my rack.

My rack is modular so I can get some replacement parts and fit the amp back into it, but the manual says I need an air gap of 8" above the amp. I would appreciate your opinions on this?Surely not it would look ugly.

I'm happy to have it on the top of my rack, but the wife says NO, and because I bought the amp without asking her (I'm in the doghouse) I'm trying to please her(grovelling).

But 8" does seem a bit extreme.

 

[professorhat]

I have 4" gap above my 905 with a decent space around the back and sides as well and have had no issues - it runs pretty hot, but a flawless performance.

 

[pete321]

You're right, 8" is a bit extreme, but you'll probably need it!

My 905 is on an Apollo Aria modular rack and so is open at the back, front and sides. The original air gap at the top was 3" which was more than enough for my previous high-end Pioneer receiver. Unfortunately not so for my Onkyo, it would cut out during long playback of blu-rays.

I initially did some DIY and made use of some old PC spare parts to put a fan above it to create some airflow. However, I gave in and bought some new taller frame supports for that section of rack. I now have a 7" gap, the amp still gets hot, but I've had no more cutting out.

I had the same issue with my other half about the look of the hifi rack, but with some reshuffling we both think it actually looks better now! My center speaker sits on top of the rack with nothing above it, then the Onk is on a shelf all on it's own and my BD player and V+ box sit alongside each other on the bottom shelf. Surprisingly it looks more like a table now rather than an equipment rack, everyone's happy!

 

[Anonymous]

Andy H:Hi all, I've just replaced my old amp with a Onkyo 806 and with this being a larger amp it will not fit in my rack. I have shuffled this around for now and it now sits on top of my rack. My rack is modular so I can get some replacement parts and fit the amp back into it, but the manual says I need an air gap of 8" above the amp. I would appreciate your opinions on this?Surely not it would look ugly. I'm happy to have it on the top of my rack, but the wife says NO, and because I bought the amp without asking her (I'm in the doghouse) I'm trying to please her(grovelling). But 8" does seem a bit extreme.Hi again Andy. I have my 806 at the bottom of this 3-in-1 tv stand http://www.samsclub.com/shopping/navigate.do?dest=5&item=379276. The clearance is only about 2 inches. No problem so far with heat.

 

[Andy H]

Thanks for that everyone, my rack is open on the sides and back so I might try and get away with 4 - 5 inches.

I do believe the newer Onks don't run quite as hot. (I may be wrong but I thought I read this somwhere).

 

[Anonymous]

Andy H:
I do believe the newer Onks don't run quite as hot. (I may be wrong but I thought I read this somwhere).

Well that concurs with my experiences. My old 875 ran so hot you couldn't place the palm of hand against it. I actually considered trying to fry an egg on it at one point during a particularly drunken night in!

Anyway, that amp developed a fault and Onkyo UK replaced it with a shiny new 876 (respect to the Onkyo service team!)...... which doesn't get anywhere near as hot.

Saying that, I still make sure its properly ventilated!

 

[Big Chris]

Ketch:Andy H:
I do believe the newer Onks don't run quite as hot. (I may be wrong but I thought I read this somwhere).

Well that concurs with my experiences. My old 875 ran so hot you couldn't place the palm of hand against it. I actually considered trying to fry an egg on it at one point during a particularly drunken night in!

Anyway, that amp developed a fault and Onkyo UK replaced it with a shiny new 876 (respect to the Onkyo service team!)...... which doesn't get anywhere near as hot.

Saying that, I still make sure its properly ventilated!

I'm not surprised it became faulty if it was as hot as you say. Yes, my 875 gets hot, but nowhere near hot enough to prevent me from touching the top of it.

 

[Andy H]

Hi all,

Just to let you know, I've been in touch with Onkyo and the 8" is for an enclosed rack.

With an open rack (back & sides) you can get away with 4".

This was for the 806 model.

 

[Anonymous]

Andy H:Hi all, Just to let you know, I've been in touch with Onkyo and the 8" is for an enclosed rack. With an open rack (back & sides) you can get away with 4". This was for the 806 model.Hi Andy. I have an open rack but I can still get away with 2". Perhaps only during winter.

 

[Andrew Everard]

Have used a TX-SR875 in an Atcama Equinox AV - shelf spacing 21.5cm - for a year and a half now and not a hint of overheating.

 

[Andy H]

Have I got this right that you only have approximately 2cm gap between the top of your amp and the underside of the above shelf?

 

[Anonymous]

Andy H:Have I got this right that you only have approximately 2cm gap between the top of your amp and the underside of the above shelf?I mean 2 inches gap.

 

[Pistol Pete1]

Hi liujol,

We communicated a few days back....through here......

Has the amp's sound improved without changing the set up settings yet?

Was it a worth while upgrade in terms of sound quality ONLY, from the 606?

If so, how and why? (interested in same upgrade!!)

Cheers.........

 

[Andy H]

Sorry liujol I was meaning Andrew's measurements. I just wanted to double check as this seems quite small.

It's beginning to look as if I can get away 2" like yourself.

I priced up some spares for my rack today and it was going to cost me £66. (Gulp, lump in the throat) Going down to a 2" gap may save me some money.

 

[Anonymous]

Pistol Pete1:

Hi liujol,

We communicated a few days back....through here......

Has the amp's sound improved without changing the set up settings yet?

Was it a worth while upgrade in terms of sound quality ONLY, from the 606?

If so, how and why? (interested in same upgrade!!)

Cheers.........

Hi PP1. My first impression with this new unit is that it sounded "bright" but now, the sound is getting warmer (a case of bedding-in) which is the kind of sound that I like. I also did some tweaking. Except for the Level Calibration, I leave everything up to Audyssey. I get very good result by cranking up the levels of all channels after performing the audyssey. I never go below +5db on all channels with my subwoofer set to flat. In doing so, I get better sound quality by eliminating "brightness". It is really a worthy upgrade IMO because now I have the following features which the 606 didn't have: 5 hdmi inputs; THX Ultra 2 Plus; Audyssey Multi-Equalizer; 180 watts/channel; and more importantly it has Pre-Outs.

 

[Pistol Pete1]

Thanks liujol.....

I realise all the extra features, but with audyssey and tweaks after set up, would you say the sound quality is better in terms of detail, clarity, depth or just very similar to the 606?

Please be honest, cos I don't really need the extra features, so would be interested in the upgrade pruely on sound quality alone. If the improvement is minimal, I will save up more and buy the 876.

Cheers......

 

[Anonymous]

Pistol Pete1:

Thanks liujol.....

I realise all the extra features, but with audyssey and tweaks after set up, would you say the sound quality is better in terms of detail, clarity, depth or just very similar to the 606?

Please be honest, cos I don't really need the extra features, so would be interested in the upgrade pruely on sound quality alone. If the improvement is minimal, I will save up more and buy the 876.

Cheers......
I would say it has improved but not hugely so.TBH, actually I only paid my supplier £60 to get my 806. Surprised!? I swappped my 606 based on the price that I bought it 7 months ago which is also £399. I just paid the store their "handling charge" which is 15% of the original price.

 

[Pistol Pete1]

Yes, I read that in other of your threads.......bargain really then!!!!!!

In my case, I would have to sell my 606 on ebay (Mine has even still got the stick on the front still attached!!). I did see one go for £313 the other day with £15 postage. It was 6 months old like mine.

I was shocked it went for that much, as you can buy them for £299 brand new!!!

Anyway, I think I may save up and buy the 876 or something. Thanks alot for your input, and good luck with your new amp............

 

[Anonymous]

Pistol Pete1:

Yes, I read that in other of your threads.......bargain really then!!!!!!

In my case, I would have to sell my 606 on ebay (Mine has even still got the stick on the front still attached!!). I did see one go for £313 the other day with £15 postage. It was 6 months old like mine.

I was shocked it went for that much, as you can buy them for £299 brand new!!!

Anyway, I think I may save up and buy the 876 or something. Thanks alot for your input, and good luck with your new amp............
If you are after sound quality I suggest you save for the 906. It has 2 separate amplifiers 1 for movie and 1 for music. The price might still go down middle of this year.

 

[Anonymous]

liujol:Pistol Pete1:

Yes, I read that in other of your threads.......bargain really then!!!!!!

In my case, I would have to sell my 606 on ebay (Mine has even still got the stick on the front still attached!!). I did see one go for £313 the other day with £15 postage. It was 6 months old like mine.

I was shocked it went for that much, as you can buy them for £299 brand new!!!

Anyway, I think I may save up and buy the 876 or something. Thanks alot for your input, and good luck with your new amp............
If you are after sound quality I suggest you save for the 906. It has 2 separate amplifiers 1 for movie and 1 for music. The price might still go down middle of this year.Sorry about that I mean the 906 has separate Transformers for Audio and Video Processing. tnx.

 

[Anonymous]

I have my 875 on a Soundstyle AV rack on the bottom glass shelf.
The stand is open at the back and the amp sits on the shelf with the rear 2" in free air.
The clearence it has with the glass shelf above is tight, only 50mm, but being of glass it acts like a radiator and disperses the heat.

Have no running problems with it at all dispite it being on for 10/12 hrs a day. It runs quite warm, but this is normal for Class A amplification.

I think if you can keep the rear top vents in free air heat build up is not an issue.

 

[grdunn123]

Picked up my new 806 a couple of days ago and was sitting watching tv last night at low volume when there was a controlled 'bang' and it packed in completely.It was warm on top but certainly no warmer than my previous Sony used to get.Followed the instructions in the manual but it refuses to turn back on so I'm faced with a trip back to RS today.......

 

[Andy H]

OUCH!!!!

Sorry to hear that. I hope you get sorted out.

Mine runs warm to the touch so it might be something else and not overhearing?

Let us know how you get on?.

 

[grdunn123]

Andy H:OUCH!!!! Sorry to hear that. I hope you get sorted out. Mine runs warm to the touch so it might be something else and not overhearing? Let us know how you get on?.Went in to Richersounds at lunchtime where they confirmed that the receiver was 'dead'.Got a replacement home and it's working away fine so far.......I have it sitting in a glass rack open at front,rear and sides with only about an inch or so space above it......should I be looking for a new rack with more headroom??

 

[Andy H]

I think I would inclined to have a larger air gap, but earlier in this thread Andrew pointed out that he has an 875 with a spacing of 21.5c, = to a 2cm gap at the top with no probs.

Like I said earlier Onkyo recommended 8" enclosed and 4" open racks.

Glad to see you got a replacement though.