fretmeister Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 Obviously the answer is size and money, but I hate fan noise. I know that fan noise is quiet in comparison with the output of a gigging amp, and that at a gig no one notices but when playing in the house it is sooo annoying, even on an amp with a quiet fan. Just as an example, the new Markbass Big Bang. It's tiny, even smaller than a LM3 and I bet the fan is whirring like a bastard. the guts of an LM3 in a normal 19 inch rack with a properly designed heat sink / fins etc would negate the need for a fan. Wouldn't weigh much more either. I love my RH750. It's ace, and of course it's not designed to be used at whisper levels at midnight but I do long for the end of fans!!! (And I use my Roland Cube 30 late at night) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Musicman20 Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 I think the new Tecamp Puma 900 uses the chassis to disburse of excess heat. No fan! Cool idea. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ed_S Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 It's part of the reason why after briefly toying with the idea of selling it, I opted to keep my old SWR Workingman's 4004 - everything else I own has a fan in it, which is, as you so rightly say, very annoying when playing quietly at home. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BigRedX Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 Fans are cheaper and lighter and easier to implement than a good heatsink. I think also with a fan it's obvious what it's purpose is and it's less likely to be blocked. Purely passive cooling is fine on free-standing equipment, but putting it into a rack case just introduces too many variables with airflow and heat being produced by other equipment in the case and fins being used as convenient places to run the cables connecting all the gear together. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted August 12, 2012 Author Share Posted August 12, 2012 Actually - can we get a list going of amps without fans? If there are any made anymore? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 The Thunderfunk has a switch-able fan (generally for studio use) and in fact even with the fan off at a gig, the amp can dissipate the heat without the need for a fan so long as you aren't cranking it/going daft. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 A water/fluid cooled amp would be cool. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted August 12, 2012 Author Share Posted August 12, 2012 [quote name='xgsjx' timestamp='1344770764' post='1768876'] A water/fluid cooled amp would be cool. [/quote] Yeah - but just like the PC's you can get... the coolant pump noise is just as annoying!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
xgsjx Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 [quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1344771086' post='1768885'] Yeah - but just like the PC's you can get... the coolant pump noise is just as annoying!! [/quote] Good point. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyfisher Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 I agree with the sentiment but there's no shortage of combos without fans for home use, where high power and high volumes are not required. Having said that, don't some amps have thermostatically-controlled fans? They should be able to be used at low power/volumes without the fan cutting in for cooling - though it will depend on the amp class and case arrangement of course. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mr. Foxen Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 Passive cooling is easier to mess up by putting in a case or close to something, or under something, people take the hint from a fan better. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LiamPodmore Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 Depending on the fan size, seeing as most of them use PC fans anyway, would it not be easier for companies to use silent/low noise fans in the first place? Liam Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stingrayPete1977 Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 One of things I like about my Genz 3.0 is the lack of fan, never gets hot either. The 6.0 is a bit annoying for quiet practice with its whir. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Spoombung Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 I hate fans in amps. Absolutely NOT necessary. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 I don't think many amps are built to be able to run passive... I think you need to be very sure of your design and your components and this is generally against the cheaper ethos of amps these days. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
LukeFRC Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 my one only comes on if it's hot enough to need it. The reason you don't see heat sinks I guess would be like you say, easier to be obstructed, that gig venues often can get pretty hot. Try sticking you amp within a meter of a rack of stage lights in a low roofed venue where it's going to get very very hot. A fan at least is pulling something across it. and also a box, some components, stick a fan in, test it- it it doesn't get too hot and pop it can go into construction... heat sinks would need way more engineering - so be more expensive on the R&D Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bill Fitzmaurice Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 [quote name='LiamPodmore' timestamp='1344780561' post='1769016'] would it not be easier for companies to use silent/low noise fans in the first place? [/quote]They cost more. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mrtcat Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 design features of pretty much anything money can buy have been selected based upon basic economics. amps with silent fans or water cooling would cost more to produce and therefore more to buy. The company making the amp would expect to sell less as essentially it's more money for the same amp (albeit one where [b][i]some[/i][/b] people would appreciate the silent cooling system). Amps with passive cooling would be larger and less likely to compete well against micro heads. Decisions about parts and designs are all part of an in depth cost/benefit exercise. Most manufactures will ultimately calculate which design will give them the best return. Personally I've never noticed a fan noise on any amp as I only use them when gigging. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fretmeister Posted August 12, 2012 Author Share Posted August 12, 2012 [quote name='Bill Fitzmaurice' timestamp='1344787621' post='1769120'] They cost more. [/quote] How much more? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyfisher Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 Is there really such a thing as a low noise fan? Isn't the noise mainly a result of the movement of air rather than the fan itself? If the amp design requires a certainly volume of air to move through it for cooling then that's what it needs and that will require a certain size and rpm of fan. I'm sure the design could be changed to smooth the airflow, or slightly increase the heatsinking and reduce the airflow, but I can't see it being just as simple as using a "low noise" fan. But the basic issue is that these amps are not really designed to be domestic applicances are they? So a bit of fan noise is not a big deal in their working environment. If you want a 'silent' amp then there are plenty of low-power, fan-less, combos for the bedroom. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyfisher Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 Some more information on low noise fans here: http://www.moorefans.com/pdfs/NOTES4_1.PDF Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JTUK Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 I have a 400w amp that can run stereo. Runs VERY hot and you could almost burn yourself on it. Works very well and is very well engineered so it doesn't need a fan. Later models included one but I prefer amps now that have switchable fans if they have to have one at all. But the fan on my current amp is very quiet I never hear it running anyway. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
flyfisher Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 As a general rule, electronic components last longer the cooler they run. Might be why the later models added a fan? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
warwickhunt Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 I also have a 400w Glockenklang 'Heart Core' amp which has no fan and is passive cooling, it gets warm but nothing that I'd consider 'hot'. Patently amps designed well and built with quality components can manage very well without a fan BUT were I to rack this in a small rack with no space above or below then I'd want to have some air blowing across the heatsinks. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Protium Posted August 12, 2012 Share Posted August 12, 2012 [quote name='fretmeister' timestamp='1344767617' post='1768834'] Obviously the answer is size and money, but I hate fan noise. I know that fan noise is quiet in comparison with the output of a gigging amp, and that at a gig no one notices but when playing in the house it is sooo annoying, even on an amp with a quiet fan. Just as an example, the new Markbass Big Bang. It's tiny, even smaller than a LM3 and I bet the fan is whirring like a bastard. the guts of an LM3 in a normal 19 inch rack with a properly designed heat sink / fins etc would negate the need for a fan. Wouldn't weigh much more either. I love my RH750. It's ace, and of course it's not designed to be used at whisper levels at midnight but I do long for the end of fans!!! (And I use my Roland Cube 30 late at night) [/quote] Should be pretty simple to disconnet the fan. Find out if the amp cutting out due to overheating is any less annoying Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
.gif.9ad672bb8b84505709f76b39c8c256ec.gif)
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.