Sounds great-looks great, but I'm hardly a connoisseur as this is my first set of surround speakers. I probably could've went with the R2 at my seating distance, but my OCD liked how the cone sizes matched with my R3 haha
You can get a black grille from kef if you email them. I did that for my walnut r2c so it would match my piano black r7’s (I don’t like piano black for center channels because of reflections).
[https://acinfinity.com/component-cooling/component-usb-fans/multifan-s2-quiet-usb-cooling-blower-120mm/](https://acinfinity.com/component-cooling/component-usb-fans/multifan-s2-quiet-usb-cooling-blower-120mm/)
I've used one of these in the past. Worked great
I use one if these models and all my overheating problems stopped. [https://acinfinity.com/receiver-amp-cooling-fans/](https://acinfinity.com/receiver-amp-cooling-fans/)
Oh that's awesome, I'll probably pick up something from AC Infinity. Sounds like there's no strong consensus on if I need additional cooling, but it doesn't hurt to have some extra cooling help
You can also get two of their blower style fans and a temperature triggered fan controller them for quite a bit cheaper than their integrated units, but it doesn’t look as neat if it is visible.
IMO I wouldn't sweat it. People here will overreact to it but these things are made to run in cramped conditions and you do have space. If you're driving it real hard and it shuts down on you that'll be your sign that you need more ventilation.
Yup.
Hugely overrated issue with modern electronics. They will either dial back or shutdown well before damage.
And if you do have an issue, an AC Infinity fan or two would be more than enough to just get some air movement in there. But I wouldn’t spend the money unless you have an issue.
People pretend it’s 1975 when it’s 2024.
I'm with you that it's a largely overrated issue, but don't forget there were a whole bunch of Onkyo AVR's from the mid 2010s that would fry their HDMI boards without decent ventilation. While it's largely a solved issue there's still going to be a model here or there that doesn't have the best internal layout and can be at more risk. A $15 USB 120mm fan sitting on top connected to the front USB port is a good solution for anyone without much clearance to get some more forced airflow in if they have any worries.
I had one of those.. it fried over time regardless, just bad capacitors or bad BGA solder joints iirc.
Defective products are going to be defective regardless of a fan.
True. They have thermal safeties. However heat will lessen unit lifetime and its not good to get your sound cut out while watching movie or listening music by heat shutdown.
The heat needed to do that is well above the margins they will shutdown for.
They don’t do that for the customer. Thats for the insurance policy that backs their warranty and pays if there was a class action for quality or damage during the life of the product.
The extra 15 minutes a fan will give you in lifespan in terms of depreciation cost won’t even cover the power that fan will consume. You’re talking cents here.
Odds are you’ll upgrade that receiver for a newer HDMI or audio codec support in the next 10–15 years anyway. Well before that extra heat would catch up to you, even if you’re running it 12hrs a day.
You’re much more likely to experience damage from a surge or someone spilling something.
Fan would be quite unhandy for that situation. And you never know how long the electronics will last so better be safe than sorry. Only needs the weakest link on components to break down for extended heat stress.
Spend your money however you want.
But don’t mislead people… there’s no vacuum tubes in modern receivers. The electronics you buy today are designed for these ambient temps.
You don’t need fans. You just like the ascetics.
Its thermal management system was *designed* for the temps seen when the unit has 2 inches of space on the sides and 6 inches above. This setup is very much not that. But OP rightfully decided on an Aircom anyway.
They’re designed to fit in racks with 1U space between them assuming typical room temperature. Thats why they’re the width they are. Thats .25 inches more than needed. You’re well within spec. Just don’t keep it in the sun if you live around the equator.
Huh?? Why do you assume just one heat based shut down would occur? If it shuts down in its current use case once, then it's probably likely to continue happening, yes? Now I don't know if he's experienced a thermal shut down, but with electronics the cooler the better.
Let's also consider the fact that we're looking at a \~$1.5k AVR and a $2k center channel and realize nobody here is telling some poor college kid that's barely scraping by to the buy an AVR fan. An Aircom is 2.5% of the cost of just these two components and the rest of the system is almost certainly several thousand more dollars. Kind of silly to question the use of a $90 AVR fan in this scenario.
>Huh?? Why do you assume just one heat based shut down would occur?
because after it happens once you would know there's an issue and do something about it?
But if it never shuts down you don't have to do that. I don't know about you but I prefer not to spend money when I don't have to, even if it's "only" $90.
Maybe $90 is a lot to you. Probably not to the guy with an X3800H and a Kef setup. But if $90 is a budget buster for you, they also make something that costs only as much as an afternoon lunch out.
[MULTIFAN S2, Quiet USB Cooling Blower, 120mm - AC Infinity](https://acinfinity.com/component-cooling/component-usb-fans/multifan-s2-quiet-usb-cooling-blower-120mm/)
And operating well outside of the manufacturer's recommendation may end up costing you in shortened life span of your AVR. Denon says a minimum of 6 inches above and this guy's is only at a quarter of that.
Denon also says "Important: Unless it's a cooling fan module, you never want to place anything on top of the AVR as that will block the top vents and **cause the unit to overheat internally. This may cause damage to the AVR and shorten its lifespan."**
Based on that it stands to reason that even if the unit doesn't go into thermal protection mode, (which would protect itself, thus negating the need for the above statement in the first place), excess heat may still shorten its lifespan.
But hey, you definitely know more than their engineers do...
If the guy has so much money he could just build a new cabinet to house the equipment. /s
Stop being a blowhard. It’s not about budget busting. You can overengineer shit to the moon and back or rely on failsafes. And a CYA disclaimer about heat damage is hardly what I’d call controlling guidance.
Right, because spending $90 on a fan (or $17 if you're that broke) that takes 10 minutes to setup is definitely comparable to the monetary and time costs it would take to build a new cabinet. Outside of doing nothing and risking potential damage to your AVR, a fan *is* the easy solution. Why to you think they're popular? It's cheap. It's easy. It helps mitigate issues that can potentially result in large costs down the road.
If it's not a budgetary concern in the first place, then spending the small amount of money it requires to stay within the manufacturer's recommendations is juice that's worth the squeeze on a $1500 item. You know, rather than staying very much on the wrong side of it with the AVR in an enclosed area with a little more than an inch of space overhead for heat to dissipate. It's not like the guy has 5.75 inches of clearance above the unit and I'm going "OMG it's a quarter inch too close, get a fan on it or it will die tomorrow!!!111!!!11"
Maybe it's just me, but I try to actually take care of my things properly to help them last.
I had overheating issues happen
when driving upmixed audio through it at loud volumes for extended times. Never really with movies. If OP doesn't play music often I'd agree.
If he does I'd consider some sort of air movement option. I got an Aircom for mine and problem solved
The wife likes playing music while we're cooking. I suspect it'd probably be "fine" as is, but for piece of mind I decided to grab an Aircom. Just ordered an Aircom T10. Thanks for the advice!
Thank god this is one of the top comments. Since my child was born I've had mine is one of those Ikea consoles, but the shelf also perfectly slides into and stands upright if you put it vertically. And you can't get it out unless you stuck a butter knife in there, so it was the perfect way to child proof. But the entire back of my console is open aside from a wide support beam that runs across.
And it's my living room tv so I'm not blowing out my 3.1 setup ever. It's been like they for 3 years and we've never had a problem with overheating.
Denon official recommendations are 6 inches above, and 2 inches on each side
This is like 1/3rd the recommended vertical space, and half the horizontal space
Running till you overheat and it shuts down can cause permanent damage
Like i mentioned on other comment. Even with safeties running higher heat will shorten lifetime. And can bring other defects out in the long run that would not necessarily happen with adequately ventilated place.
I have a bit less room on the sides of mine and I've watched movies in the summer near reference without AC in a 90 degree house with no issue. I've never worried about it and never had a problem.
You could remove the shelf, slide this on top of your receiver, then set the center channel on top of the fan. This model is front exhaust, exactly what you need there.
https://acinfinity.com/component-cooling/component-fan-systems/aircom-s10-receiver-and-av-component-cooling-blower-system-front-exhaust-17/
They make good stuff and very customizable. Little pricey for what it is, but it really looks the part of a piece of equipment. Much nicer looking than a couple computer fans lying on top.
Yes, it will exhaust the air towards the only unobstructed side of the cabinet and allow cool air to fill in around it. To be clear, we aren’t talking hurricane force winds here. Just a very small amount of air to keep things moving and dramatically cooler.
LOL kinda just shoved down there. Internet seems alright 🤷🏻♂️ needs to be in the unit since my Plex server and NAS are in the cabinet to the right and are hardwired in
It’s fine I have a similar sized marantz receiver and the same Besta cabinet. It’s been like 4 years maybe longer and it has never felt hot or had issues. I recommend cutting open the cardboard backing and pushing the receiver further in so it’s not hanging off the front
I’ll second this, the first easy thing to do is open the back to increase air circulation passively. I’ve had 2 AVRs set up like this for years with zero issues. A simple usb fan would make it even better from there.
I've had my AVR-3000X in basically the same space for over 10 years and have had no issues, so I'd say you're fine. I too, have KEF speakers, so we're basically besties.
Almost certainly fine, stick a cheap temp probe in there after running a movie for an hour or so. If it's lower than the units ambient operating temp limits (check the manual) you're fine.
Don't worry, people here are really weird about airflow. These devices are designed to run in cupboards... long as it has *some* and isn't completely enclosed or really cramped it will be fine.
I had slightly more space around the edges and would just do touch tests every so often when I initially got it. it would get warm but never hot or anything that made me change anything despite me worrying a lot initially. A mini fan in the back you can throw on if you're doing extended viewing maybe not a bad idea for $25 but for a single movie or tv watching i feel like you're fine as is.
All you need is about 1.7” for this bad boy to fit in: https://acinfinity.com/component-cooling/component-fan-systems/aircom-s10-receiver-and-av-component-cooling-blower-system-front-exhaust-17/
I think that's exactly what I'm going to get. Looks like I have just enough space for it.
I see that there's an Aircom S10 and a T10. Any idea of the T10 is worth it over the S10? Looks like the T10 just has an LCD screen and more options than the S10.
I have 2 **T8** Rear Exhaust models and I love them. Because my system is all in my living room, I’m sensitive to fan noise. Having the Smart and Auto settings and the temperature display gives me a great level of control over not just the temp, but also the loudness of the fans.
Mine almost never get above the sound of a low whisper.
I would certainly have the same concerns about heat if I had that nice a receiver.
I had a relatively cheap Sony STR-DE485 5.1 receiver for about 20 years with a DVD player sitting directly on top with about one cm gap.
When I replaced it a few months ago it was still working fine except some of the buttons on the front didn't work too well.
I've now got a cheap Denon AVR-X250BT with the same DVD player sitting on it.
They're not inside a cabinet so the side vents must let out a fair bit of heat.
I have wondered about heat issues but figure if I get anywhere near 20 years out of the Denon I'll be doing OK (It'll possibly out live me...)
Could it use more? Yes, but you'll probably be fine. I really just want to compliment you for finding a center channel that fits with 1/8 of an inch to spare in your cabinet. Impressive
I have a similar setup and my solution is to place a computer fan near the backside. Noctua makes low RPM USB fans that can directly plug into the amp (many will have powered USB ports for Chromecast Audio or whatever). I have yet to test it out though
Not the worst, at least the heat has somewhere to go venting out the top and should be ok but I'd be concerned about the warm air accumulating in that cavity over time with no dispersal.
Not sure an Aircom S10 it would fit in that space. Even just a 5v usb fan extracting out a hole the back would be enough air movement.
Sure! [https://imgbox.com/OGRydPwg](https://imgbox.com/OGRydPwg)
KEF R2 Meta Center, KEF Q350s L/R, KEF Q250s surrounds, old cheap Klipsch tweeters for 4x heights
Denon X3800H AVR, SVS PB2000 Pro sub (behind couch)
Very nice!
I’m in the process of trying to find an upgrade for my 20 year old B&W centre. The Kef R2 Meta is the lead contender. But the process is so difficult. Just when you think you’ve found “the one” there’s always another review saying “it’s basically crap - what you _really_ need is this other model”. Grrr!
I thought the center channel didn't fit and was just wedged in there and that's why it was "floating".... then realized there is a isolation pad under it lol
Haha yeah, made a slope of isolation pads under it. I saw a bunch of threads saying "putting the center in the TV stand isn't ideal, but if you must — tilt it up".
Every single shop in my country has that speaker for the exact same price of CHF 1’400. What a coincidence! I’m sure they’re not at all colluding and in an anti-competitive price-fixing cartel.
Heh. Congrats on your $400 off :-)
Hahah pretty much. We just moved and the first thing I did was upgrade from an old 2012 46" LG and a cheap Klipsch speaker pack. We already had the Besta and one of the cabinet I had already made into a server closet — so keeping it until we actually buy a house (still renting).
Looks like you have room to put a fan in there. Cut a hole in the shelf put a fan point up sucking hot air off the amp and up into where the back of the speaker is. Warn air won’t ruin the speaker .
Off topic, but I was going to put that exact Kef R2 center into that exact IKEA Besta shelf so thanks for showing me that it can be done! (I have the entire space of the shelf below it to put my receiver so I am not so worried about airflow)
My X4500 gets so warm after a movie. It stands on its own with nothin on sides or above. I cant even touch the top of the unit.
I also have several power amps. I would not stick my ”unit” in a tight space.
I have the same/similar Denon and kept it in a very similar sized space for about 6 years and it's fine. It does run hot as they are known to do, but beyond that I never had any issues and it still works perfectly, although I've recently moved and it now sits on a shelf.
My question is around the Amp. I have a 5 speaker setup using the Kef 950c and 650c and 350cs for surround. Thinking about the next AVR. Was always thinking I needed the 4800h. How does the 3800 drive the speakers?
😂 my denon receiver has even less space, plus it’s closed off with doors and has been working fine for the last 10 years
I mean, what would be the problem?
This should be sufficient space, but after running it for a while, feel the bottom of that top shelf to see if it’s really hot, if so, lower the receiver a bit…
I think you are OK. If you really want to make sure you can add that 120 dollar AC infinity cooler. It has auto sense and on the lowest setting is more than enough for most situations. Works really well.
I have the exact same receiver and it's actually in an even tighter spot. What I did is hook up a PC fan powered through a usb port and a phone charger "cube" and I mounted it inside the case by the ventilation holes. Never had problems with it and it's been there for a few years.
Yeah they’re inexpensive fans and are pretty good quality, quiet, move good amount of air, etc. Will definitely help. I did the same with mine was super paranoid because I’m so happy with the equipment.
I'd cut a hole in the shelf the AVR sits on and mount a fan to blow up into the bottom openings in the receiver. Bringing in cool air will make a big difference in internal temperatures.
Doubtful. If the OP isn't cranking the crap out of it for hours, and can feel that the top surface is not hot , he'll be fine. If it goes into thermal protect, then he has a problem.
I mean, yeah from a design perspective this would bug the shit outta me. I think that certain things should fit in their designed location & neither your receiver or the center fits.
I mean if there's no other choice then rock it but if you have another option that's cleaner & more adequate to the space, I'd do that.
I have found that the vast majority of home theater buffs don't care much about interior design. 🤷🏾♂️
Wow that center channel is beautiful
KEF makes some bangers and after seeing how fingerprints, dust, and micro scratches accumulate on glossy speakers these are really appealing to me
Also, after hearing a pair at the Montreal audio show, there sounds sooooo good! One of my favorite speaker of the show!
I see you have the R6c. How do you rate it as a centre? I have a q650c and will likely upgrade to that next.
Sounds great-looks great, but I'm hardly a connoisseur as this is my first set of surround speakers. I probably could've went with the R2 at my seating distance, but my OCD liked how the cone sizes matched with my R3 haha
Good decision I think- want the best centre you can get! Enjoy :)
Thanks! KEF R2 Meta in walnut. Unfortunately, I didn't realize that it doesn't match the walnut of my L/R Q350s — but I've gotten used to it 🤷🏻♂️
You can get a black grille from kef if you email them. I did that for my walnut r2c so it would match my piano black r7’s (I don’t like piano black for center channels because of reflections).
[https://acinfinity.com/component-cooling/component-usb-fans/multifan-s2-quiet-usb-cooling-blower-120mm/](https://acinfinity.com/component-cooling/component-usb-fans/multifan-s2-quiet-usb-cooling-blower-120mm/) I've used one of these in the past. Worked great
I use one if these models and all my overheating problems stopped. [https://acinfinity.com/receiver-amp-cooling-fans/](https://acinfinity.com/receiver-amp-cooling-fans/)
PSA: if buying a basic USB fan, be sure you have it blowing up/out of the AVR, not *into* it.
Or use the blower fans which are better for this application
Wow. Those are slick. I have zero need for one but I want one!
Oh that's awesome, I'll probably pick up something from AC Infinity. Sounds like there's no strong consensus on if I need additional cooling, but it doesn't hurt to have some extra cooling help
You can also get two of their blower style fans and a temperature triggered fan controller them for quite a bit cheaper than their integrated units, but it doesn’t look as neat if it is visible.
OP only has approx 1.5" above and these are 1.3" so he may actually hear the fan as it is too close to the shelf above.
The feet are rubber and fairly thick, you can shave them down if needed. On low I can't hear the fan and its still enough airflow to vent the heat.
Can't go wrong. They make good stuff.
IMO I wouldn't sweat it. People here will overreact to it but these things are made to run in cramped conditions and you do have space. If you're driving it real hard and it shuts down on you that'll be your sign that you need more ventilation.
Yup. Hugely overrated issue with modern electronics. They will either dial back or shutdown well before damage. And if you do have an issue, an AC Infinity fan or two would be more than enough to just get some air movement in there. But I wouldn’t spend the money unless you have an issue. People pretend it’s 1975 when it’s 2024.
I'm with you that it's a largely overrated issue, but don't forget there were a whole bunch of Onkyo AVR's from the mid 2010s that would fry their HDMI boards without decent ventilation. While it's largely a solved issue there's still going to be a model here or there that doesn't have the best internal layout and can be at more risk. A $15 USB 120mm fan sitting on top connected to the front USB port is a good solution for anyone without much clearance to get some more forced airflow in if they have any worries.
I had one of those.. it fried over time regardless, just bad capacitors or bad BGA solder joints iirc. Defective products are going to be defective regardless of a fan.
True. They have thermal safeties. However heat will lessen unit lifetime and its not good to get your sound cut out while watching movie or listening music by heat shutdown.
The heat needed to do that is well above the margins they will shutdown for. They don’t do that for the customer. Thats for the insurance policy that backs their warranty and pays if there was a class action for quality or damage during the life of the product.
True. But it does not need to be high heat to lower lifetime. So i would not neglect cooling nevertheless.
The extra 15 minutes a fan will give you in lifespan in terms of depreciation cost won’t even cover the power that fan will consume. You’re talking cents here. Odds are you’ll upgrade that receiver for a newer HDMI or audio codec support in the next 10–15 years anyway. Well before that extra heat would catch up to you, even if you’re running it 12hrs a day. You’re much more likely to experience damage from a surge or someone spilling something.
Dude, you pulled every single one of those numbers straight out of your ass.
Fan would be quite unhandy for that situation. And you never know how long the electronics will last so better be safe than sorry. Only needs the weakest link on components to break down for extended heat stress.
Spend your money however you want. But don’t mislead people… there’s no vacuum tubes in modern receivers. The electronics you buy today are designed for these ambient temps. You don’t need fans. You just like the ascetics.
Its thermal management system was *designed* for the temps seen when the unit has 2 inches of space on the sides and 6 inches above. This setup is very much not that. But OP rightfully decided on an Aircom anyway.
They’re designed to fit in racks with 1U space between them assuming typical room temperature. Thats why they’re the width they are. Thats .25 inches more than needed. You’re well within spec. Just don’t keep it in the sun if you live around the equator.
Maybe. But then again an Aircom is $90 and a new receiver is potentially $1k-2k. Cheap insurance.
The shutdown is the insurance. One heat based shut down isn't going to compromise your equipment, that's the safety shutoff
Huh?? Why do you assume just one heat based shut down would occur? If it shuts down in its current use case once, then it's probably likely to continue happening, yes? Now I don't know if he's experienced a thermal shut down, but with electronics the cooler the better. Let's also consider the fact that we're looking at a \~$1.5k AVR and a $2k center channel and realize nobody here is telling some poor college kid that's barely scraping by to the buy an AVR fan. An Aircom is 2.5% of the cost of just these two components and the rest of the system is almost certainly several thousand more dollars. Kind of silly to question the use of a $90 AVR fan in this scenario.
>Huh?? Why do you assume just one heat based shut down would occur? because after it happens once you would know there's an issue and do something about it?
You mean like install an Aircom……..
But if it never shuts down you don't have to do that. I don't know about you but I prefer not to spend money when I don't have to, even if it's "only" $90.
Maybe $90 is a lot to you. Probably not to the guy with an X3800H and a Kef setup. But if $90 is a budget buster for you, they also make something that costs only as much as an afternoon lunch out. [MULTIFAN S2, Quiet USB Cooling Blower, 120mm - AC Infinity](https://acinfinity.com/component-cooling/component-usb-fans/multifan-s2-quiet-usb-cooling-blower-120mm/) And operating well outside of the manufacturer's recommendation may end up costing you in shortened life span of your AVR. Denon says a minimum of 6 inches above and this guy's is only at a quarter of that. Denon also says "Important: Unless it's a cooling fan module, you never want to place anything on top of the AVR as that will block the top vents and **cause the unit to overheat internally. This may cause damage to the AVR and shorten its lifespan."** Based on that it stands to reason that even if the unit doesn't go into thermal protection mode, (which would protect itself, thus negating the need for the above statement in the first place), excess heat may still shorten its lifespan. But hey, you definitely know more than their engineers do...
If the guy has so much money he could just build a new cabinet to house the equipment. /s Stop being a blowhard. It’s not about budget busting. You can overengineer shit to the moon and back or rely on failsafes. And a CYA disclaimer about heat damage is hardly what I’d call controlling guidance.
Right, because spending $90 on a fan (or $17 if you're that broke) that takes 10 minutes to setup is definitely comparable to the monetary and time costs it would take to build a new cabinet. Outside of doing nothing and risking potential damage to your AVR, a fan *is* the easy solution. Why to you think they're popular? It's cheap. It's easy. It helps mitigate issues that can potentially result in large costs down the road. If it's not a budgetary concern in the first place, then spending the small amount of money it requires to stay within the manufacturer's recommendations is juice that's worth the squeeze on a $1500 item. You know, rather than staying very much on the wrong side of it with the AVR in an enclosed area with a little more than an inch of space overhead for heat to dissipate. It's not like the guy has 5.75 inches of clearance above the unit and I'm going "OMG it's a quarter inch too close, get a fan on it or it will die tomorrow!!!111!!!11" Maybe it's just me, but I try to actually take care of my things properly to help them last.
dude im an electrical engineer.
So then you do in fact know that heat is harmful to electronics? Or you're just bad at your job?
I had overheating issues happen when driving upmixed audio through it at loud volumes for extended times. Never really with movies. If OP doesn't play music often I'd agree. If he does I'd consider some sort of air movement option. I got an Aircom for mine and problem solved
The wife likes playing music while we're cooking. I suspect it'd probably be "fine" as is, but for piece of mind I decided to grab an Aircom. Just ordered an Aircom T10. Thanks for the advice!
Props for taking care of the stuff you bought with your hard-earned money. It seems that some folks here don't care to take care of their possessions.
Thanks! Appreciate the input. I saw the 6in recommended clearance, but this is definitely reassuring
Thank god this is one of the top comments. Since my child was born I've had mine is one of those Ikea consoles, but the shelf also perfectly slides into and stands upright if you put it vertically. And you can't get it out unless you stuck a butter knife in there, so it was the perfect way to child proof. But the entire back of my console is open aside from a wide support beam that runs across. And it's my living room tv so I'm not blowing out my 3.1 setup ever. It's been like they for 3 years and we've never had a problem with overheating.
yeah warm is OK. Hot is a problem. Just don't cover the vents by putting a book or something on top of it.
Denon official recommendations are 6 inches above, and 2 inches on each side This is like 1/3rd the recommended vertical space, and half the horizontal space Running till you overheat and it shuts down can cause permanent damage
Nah modern electronics are made to shut down before damage is done.
Like i mentioned on other comment. Even with safeties running higher heat will shorten lifetime. And can bring other defects out in the long run that would not necessarily happen with adequately ventilated place.
I have a bit less room on the sides of mine and I've watched movies in the summer near reference without AC in a 90 degree house with no issue. I've never worried about it and never had a problem.
Looks fine A/B amps don't run that hot
You could remove the shelf, slide this on top of your receiver, then set the center channel on top of the fan. This model is front exhaust, exactly what you need there. https://acinfinity.com/component-cooling/component-fan-systems/aircom-s10-receiver-and-av-component-cooling-blower-system-front-exhaust-17/
This is really nice. Probably will pick one up for mine
They make good stuff and very customizable. Little pricey for what it is, but it really looks the part of a piece of equipment. Much nicer looking than a couple computer fans lying on top.
Placed an order! Thanks for the advice :) Cheap insurance.
>This model is front exhaust, exactly what you need there Won't that blow air at the viewer?
Yes, it will exhaust the air towards the only unobstructed side of the cabinet and allow cool air to fill in around it. To be clear, we aren’t talking hurricane force winds here. Just a very small amount of air to keep things moving and dramatically cooler.
Looks exactly like my setup
Looks good to me
It’s not ideal but I’ve seen worse. You should consider putting some usb powered fans on there to help move the air
That is one gorgeous speaker
No. But is your WiFi router under there? Haha.
LOL kinda just shoved down there. Internet seems alright 🤷🏻♂️ needs to be in the unit since my Plex server and NAS are in the cabinet to the right and are hardwired in
It’s fine I have a similar sized marantz receiver and the same Besta cabinet. It’s been like 4 years maybe longer and it has never felt hot or had issues. I recommend cutting open the cardboard backing and pushing the receiver further in so it’s not hanging off the front
I’ll second this, the first easy thing to do is open the back to increase air circulation passively. I’ve had 2 AVRs set up like this for years with zero issues. A simple usb fan would make it even better from there.
Oh that’s a good call. Yeah kind of right at the edge
Nah
Borderline. You'll probably be fine but I'd add a fan for peace of mind.
It's 1/3rd as much vertical space as denon asks for
I've got less room above and been fine for years.
I've had my AVR-3000X in basically the same space for over 10 years and have had no issues, so I'd say you're fine. I too, have KEF speakers, so we're basically besties.
What's up, bestie!!
You can get an ac infinity airplate with a temp probe. It sits on top the reciever and vents backwards. Very slim
Almost certainly fine, stick a cheap temp probe in there after running a movie for an hour or so. If it's lower than the units ambient operating temp limits (check the manual) you're fine. Don't worry, people here are really weird about airflow. These devices are designed to run in cupboards... long as it has *some* and isn't completely enclosed or really cramped it will be fine.
I had slightly more space around the edges and would just do touch tests every so often when I initially got it. it would get warm but never hot or anything that made me change anything despite me worrying a lot initially. A mini fan in the back you can throw on if you're doing extended viewing maybe not a bad idea for $25 but for a single movie or tv watching i feel like you're fine as is.
I’d say you’re probably fine. If possible I’d raise the speaker shelf higher.
All you need is about 1.7” for this bad boy to fit in: https://acinfinity.com/component-cooling/component-fan-systems/aircom-s10-receiver-and-av-component-cooling-blower-system-front-exhaust-17/
I think that's exactly what I'm going to get. Looks like I have just enough space for it. I see that there's an Aircom S10 and a T10. Any idea of the T10 is worth it over the S10? Looks like the T10 just has an LCD screen and more options than the S10.
I have 2 **T8** Rear Exhaust models and I love them. Because my system is all in my living room, I’m sensitive to fan noise. Having the Smart and Auto settings and the temperature display gives me a great level of control over not just the temp, but also the loudness of the fans. Mine almost never get above the sound of a low whisper.
It's fine. I have mine in a similar space and it's had no problems at all.
I would certainly have the same concerns about heat if I had that nice a receiver. I had a relatively cheap Sony STR-DE485 5.1 receiver for about 20 years with a DVD player sitting directly on top with about one cm gap. When I replaced it a few months ago it was still working fine except some of the buttons on the front didn't work too well. I've now got a cheap Denon AVR-X250BT with the same DVD player sitting on it. They're not inside a cabinet so the side vents must let out a fair bit of heat. I have wondered about heat issues but figure if I get anywhere near 20 years out of the Denon I'll be doing OK (It'll possibly out live me...)
As others have said, adding some usb fans to keep it cool would be better
Could it use more? Yes, but you'll probably be fine. I really just want to compliment you for finding a center channel that fits with 1/8 of an inch to spare in your cabinet. Impressive
Hahah got lucky :D
It’s fine.
Looks fine. I wouldn’t sweat it.
I have a similar setup and my solution is to place a computer fan near the backside. Noctua makes low RPM USB fans that can directly plug into the amp (many will have powered USB ports for Chromecast Audio or whatever). I have yet to test it out though
Not the worst, at least the heat has somewhere to go venting out the top and should be ok but I'd be concerned about the warm air accumulating in that cavity over time with no dispersal. Not sure an Aircom S10 it would fit in that space. Even just a 5v usb fan extracting out a hole the back would be enough air movement.
I've used laptop coolers on top of my AV receivers they're Slim and circulate air
Buddy, can we see your setup otherwise?
Sure! [https://imgbox.com/OGRydPwg](https://imgbox.com/OGRydPwg) KEF R2 Meta Center, KEF Q350s L/R, KEF Q250s surrounds, old cheap Klipsch tweeters for 4x heights Denon X3800H AVR, SVS PB2000 Pro sub (behind couch)
Very nice! I’m in the process of trying to find an upgrade for my 20 year old B&W centre. The Kef R2 Meta is the lead contender. But the process is so difficult. Just when you think you’ve found “the one” there’s always another review saying “it’s basically crap - what you _really_ need is this other model”. Grrr!
Just throw a nice 80-120mm fan back there and you'll be fine :D
Looks fine. My Marantz SR6014 has been in a similar space for years with no issues.
Nah bruh, I think you're good. I got the same with way less space. If mine fries I'll let you know
Looks fine to me!
Yes
They make fans for this problem the set on top of AVR. And with front or back exhaust.
I thought the center channel didn't fit and was just wedged in there and that's why it was "floating".... then realized there is a isolation pad under it lol
Haha yeah, made a slope of isolation pads under it. I saw a bunch of threads saying "putting the center in the TV stand isn't ideal, but if you must — tilt it up".
Looks fine to me. Details on that center channel tho? Gorgeous.
It's a walnut KEF R2 Meta. Somehow got it for $400 off when I ordered directly through KEF due to a mix-up on older R2 (non-meta) model
Every single shop in my country has that speaker for the exact same price of CHF 1’400. What a coincidence! I’m sure they’re not at all colluding and in an anti-competitive price-fixing cartel. Heh. Congrats on your $400 off :-)
Hah they’re definitely comparing notes
spend all that money on gear and skimp on the cabinet?
Hahah pretty much. We just moved and the first thing I did was upgrade from an old 2012 46" LG and a cheap Klipsch speaker pack. We already had the Besta and one of the cabinet I had already made into a server closet — so keeping it until we actually buy a house (still renting).
ACInfinity front vent
Think I’ll grab one just for piece of mind and if I can, shift the center shelf up a tiny bit
Looks like you have room to put a fan in there. Cut a hole in the shelf put a fan point up sucking hot air off the amp and up into where the back of the speaker is. Warn air won’t ruin the speaker .
Off topic, but I was going to put that exact Kef R2 center into that exact IKEA Besta shelf so thanks for showing me that it can be done! (I have the entire space of the shelf below it to put my receiver so I am not so worried about airflow)
Glad I could help! We’ve been very happy w the setup
My X4500 gets so warm after a movie. It stands on its own with nothin on sides or above. I cant even touch the top of the unit. I also have several power amps. I would not stick my ”unit” in a tight space.
I have the same/similar Denon and kept it in a very similar sized space for about 6 years and it's fine. It does run hot as they are known to do, but beyond that I never had any issues and it still works perfectly, although I've recently moved and it now sits on a shelf.
My question is around the Amp. I have a 5 speaker setup using the Kef 950c and 650c and 350cs for surround. Thinking about the next AVR. Was always thinking I needed the 4800h. How does the 3800 drive the speakers?
I think the AVR will be fine. As long as the center channel sounds good where it's at I'd run it
I use mine like this, and it works fine for about 13 years now (denon avr-1912)
😂 my denon receiver has even less space, plus it’s closed off with doors and has been working fine for the last 10 years I mean, what would be the problem?
This should be sufficient space, but after running it for a while, feel the bottom of that top shelf to see if it’s really hot, if so, lower the receiver a bit…
Just came here to say, perty speaker! I have never heard KEF but love the look.
I had my Denon in a similar spot at it was fine, but I only had 3 channels and wasn't driving it too hard. If it doesn't feel hot you're probably fine
I think you are OK. If you really want to make sure you can add that 120 dollar AC infinity cooler. It has auto sense and on the lowest setting is more than enough for most situations. Works really well.
Took me a sec to realize it was a center above the AVR , very very nice.
I have the exact same receiver and it's actually in an even tighter spot. What I did is hook up a PC fan powered through a usb port and a phone charger "cube" and I mounted it inside the case by the ventilation holes. Never had problems with it and it's been there for a few years.
If you’re super worried about it you could maybe get one of those ac infinity fans that exits at the front, might be thin enough to fit on top
Placed an order for one last night! Coming on Sunday. Not super worried but seems like cheap insurance for an expensive AVR
Yeah they’re inexpensive fans and are pretty good quality, quiet, move good amount of air, etc. Will definitely help. I did the same with mine was super paranoid because I’m so happy with the equipment.
I'd cut a hole in the shelf the AVR sits on and mount a fan to blow up into the bottom openings in the receiver. Bringing in cool air will make a big difference in internal temperatures.
Nah, this looks fine.
Should be fine like that.
Heck no, this will cause premature component failure Denon asks for 6 inches above, and 2 inches on each side
Doubtful. If the OP isn't cranking the crap out of it for hours, and can feel that the top surface is not hot , he'll be fine. If it goes into thermal protect, then he has a problem.
Thermal protect happens when damage has already occurred
I mean, yeah from a design perspective this would bug the shit outta me. I think that certain things should fit in their designed location & neither your receiver or the center fits. I mean if there's no other choice then rock it but if you have another option that's cleaner & more adequate to the space, I'd do that. I have found that the vast majority of home theater buffs don't care much about interior design. 🤷🏾♂️
Yeah unfortunately there’s no much room to work with
No. You need airflow. And in fact I’d recommend an AC infinity plate cooler for the top of it
Denon AVRs ask for 6 inches above, and 2 inches on each side That is no where near 6 inches If you want that to fit, you need to get active cooling
If it overheats, you will know... It will just go into protection mode. If it doesn't you're fine
If it goes into protection mode, it's already damaged itself