Space Required Around AV Receiver

[kinda]

Hello,

Hoping people have views or experience on this. Done a search but not found anything definite on this, and the general concensus seems to be that manufacturer manuals overdo the space required. Is there a good guide to the space an AV amp needs?

For an average AV amp my space would have 7 cm on top to a glass shelf, just over 5cm to each side, and 9 - 10 cm to the back. The back is open behind the amp with about a foot t the wall, there are other cable holes in the back, and the glass shelf has a couple of inches gap before the back of the cabinet.

The front is a sliding glass door, with little room for air input, and closed when the amp is on.

Does this sound like it's prone to cause overheating issues? Any advice or experience much appreciated.

 

[scene]

Hi, if you look online, you can usually find PDF copies of most AV amps' manuals, which will contain the manufacturer's recommendation on clearances. Often these are quite generous and can be taken with a pinch of salt.

Having said that, some amps really do get hot - Onkyos for example get very hot. Others can run much cooler, especially those like the Pioneers that use ICE amplification, rather than having large toroidal transformers.

From how you've described your cabinet, I'd be a little concerned that there wasn't enough clearance, given that the cabinet is only open at the back. Is there any kind of ventilation in the bottom of the cabinet to encourage air circulation?

 

[kinda]

No, not really. A bit of air would get in around the sliding door, and I suppose I could make may be an inch gap by leaving it slightly open.

Is it the closed door at the fornt that worries you or the general space available? I suppose I was thinking that closed front / open back would be as good as the usual open front / closed back but don't really know.

Yeah, as in my original post, the manufacturer requirements sually seem OTT.

 

[scene]

kinda:
No, not really. A bit of air would get in around the sliding door, and I suppose I could make may be an inch gap by leaving it slightly open.

Is it the closed door at the fornt that worries you or the general space available? I suppose I was thinking that closed front / open back would be as good as the usual open front / closed back but don't really know.

It's a combination of the relatively confined space combined with the fact that only the rear will be open. It's not that the space around the amp is too little (though I would allow 10+cm over the stop), it's just with the amount of space available you need to ensure there's good convective cooling. The easiest way to provide this is to have either the front or base of the amp ventilated, otherwise you risk getting hot spots. It doesn't have to be too drastic. My Salamander cab has vent plates in each section, and a small gap at the top. (I use it with the back panels off because of nature and number of items of equipment in it.) These seem to keep it reasonably cool.

Yeah, as in my original post, the manufacturer requirements sually seem OTT.

Sorry, missed that bit slightly...

 

[Big Aura]

I have a denon 1909 and allow 2 cm either side, and 7cm above. Open front, open back. Never any problems.

What amp is it?

 

[kinda]

Getting a replacement one, and have finally come round really to a choice between Denon 1911 and Marantz NR1601.

The old one was never really in this cabinet, but i don';rt want to introduce another issue with a new unit.

The 1911 had edged it with the reduction to £399, but wondering if for space should go for Maratnz. I could maybe alter shelves and get another few centimetres on the top.

The glass door only has small maybe half centimetre gaps down each side. Is this too little for front ventilation?.

 

[kinda]

Actually it's more like 3/4 cm each side, running down the length of the front door.

Problem is it's a unit with drawers in the middle, shelved compartments either side with glass doors. Only one of the sliding doors can be open at once, at they slide over the drawers. My sub is at the front of the other compartment, so that glass door needs to be open to have the spekarers going, and the other door is shut.

Not worried about thre sub BTW. It's a Tannoy TS300 facing forward, right at the front. It's on legs s plenty of air can circulate and there's loads of room behind it.