AV amp in drawer?

Soldato
Joined
6 Jan 2006
Posts
3,372
Location
Newcastle upon Tyne
The powers that be have spoken and the new tv unit won’t have any room for an av amp other than in a drawer. I need to check the dimensions once built but can you in theory put the av amp in a drawer? My main concern is heat but can butcher the back to allow some better airflow. Probably not ideal for the remote line of sight either but it’s the only option I’ve got if it’s possible.
 
Associate
Joined
5 Apr 2020
Posts
308
Do you know how much clearance there would be between the top of the AV Amp and the top of the drawer? I think that's going to be an important factor.
 
Associate
Joined
5 Apr 2020
Posts
308
I have a media alcove with stacked shelves with a Yamaha amplifier on one and there is an air gap above of almost the same height as the amplifier itself.
 
Soldato
Joined
11 Apr 2004
Posts
19,815
You could probably get away with it if you used active cooling but I wouldn't recommend it.

My amps are in a cupboard and I always leave the door open when they're on. The back of the unit is vented and they also have a low rpm fan on top to stop the air stagnating.
 
Associate
Joined
27 Nov 2006
Posts
1,329
Location
Coventry
I have mine shut away in a cabinet. I cut a 120mm hole in the back with a hole saw, and attached a fan to pull fresh air in. I power the fan with a USB to 3pin fan adapter. Your amp is bound to have a USB connection for something. Otherwise you can just use a USB charging plug.
 
Soldato
Joined
1 Nov 2002
Posts
10,176
Location
Sussex
My Marantz runs seriously hot. So hot that you can barely touch the top of the casing, and that’s with a ton of space around it. No way I would want to enclose it.
 
Soldato
Joined
18 Nov 2007
Posts
7,940
Location
Deepest Darkest Essex!!
I've killed a couple of my old AV receivers by restricting their airflow at the top. My old Denon gets rather toasty on the rare occasions I use it, so I made a usb to 3pin case fan lead out of a couple of leads I had lying around. I plug that into a USB phone charger, job done.
 
Soldato
Joined
20 Oct 2002
Posts
17,920
Location
London
Check out the AC Infinity range. I have my Marantz amp in an enclosed unit and have two of those sitting on top of it, sucking away the heat and chucking it out the back. Well worth the investment.
 
Associate
Joined
29 Apr 2004
Posts
1,526
Location
Birmingham, uk
Check out the AC Infinity range. I have my Marantz amp in an enclosed unit and have two of those sitting on top of it, sucking away the heat and chucking it out the back. Well worth the investment.
This is what I’m using to cool my Denon AVR in my cabinet, I have a 120mm fan lying on top of the AVR drawing air up through the unit and 2 80mm fans exhausting air out the back of the cabinet and they are all powered by my LG oled via usb so they go on and off with the tv.
 
Soldato
Joined
20 Oct 2002
Posts
17,920
Location
London
This is what I’m using to cool my Denon AVR in my cabinet, I have a 120mm fan lying on top of the AVR drawing air up through the unit and 2 80mm fans exhausting air out the back of the cabinet and they are all powered by my LG oled via usb so they go on and off with the tv.
Yep mine are powered by the amp itself. It's a no-brainer. Anyone can afford another £50 for a couple of fans if you're buying a halfway decent amplifier. It's well worth it in the long run.
 
Soldato
Joined
27 Feb 2004
Posts
2,537
Location
Kent
I have a low profile Marantz AV Surround Receiver NR1608 in a drawer (with a glass front so remotes work) BUT I have cut out the back and keep the drawer open an inch - otherwise it gets too hot.
 
Back
Top Bottom