Heatsinks

[Shaffer]

I dropped out of audio as a hobby about 10 years ago. Coming back and looking for a new amplifier, I can't help noticing that the heatsink art that graced the sides of Krells (for example) has been replaced by fully enclosed casework. It seems like only Plinius is showing the metal of old. I understand that the HT market may prefer a fully enclosed component, but what about guys like us?

What happened? What did I miss?

 

[DonH50]

You missed having your hands and arms ripped to shreads having to move those monsters around in the store...

 

[FrantzM]

I did find the old krell with all these Heatsinks ..cool... No that the amps ran cool I like the take on Heatsinks by Gryphon and Burmester. FOr me Krell was these monstrous find out of the chassis

Krell KSA-200B



Gryphon

One of the best Looking amps around IMO



Burmester 911

 

[slowGEEZR]

I can think of plenty of amps that still use external heat sinks. I don't think it has gone by the wayside.

 

[Shaffer]

I understand there are individual examples. I'm talking about the market-wide pattern. I guess, given the replies, one can attribute it to a change in the aggregate aesthetic foundation. Yes, no?

 

[Shaffer]

You missed having your hands and arms ripped to shreads having to move those monsters around in the store...

Ain't that the truth! No lie, to this day I still carry a BandAid in my wallet.

On a related note (and I'm a bit proud of this), I introduced the concept of using a dolly to move the amps around. I like the small model from HF. It's ~$10, but can't claim it's the best sounding one out there. Even then, a BAT VK500 - a dreadful sounding thing - would shred flesh on contact.

 

[KBK]

Dan might of thought of asking Wakefield to dull the edges before they where anodized. After the first few hundred reported cuts, of course.

 

[A.wayne]

+10 on the vk500.....

 

[Gregadd]

Heat sinks are still around. You may thank trial lawyers for the present mutation. Law suits may arise from injuries from the former "shark fin" heat sinks.

 

[garylkoh]

One of the most lethal amplifiers I've had at home was this one:



Not only were the heatsinks sharp, they went all around the amp so there wasn't anywhere to actually hold the amp, it was damned heavy, and if you tried touching it before allowing it long enough to cool, you got blisters as well as cuts on your fingers. I didn't keep one for long - my air-conditioner in Singapore couldn't keep up with the heat.

The Pass Aleph 3 - I wonder if any were actually sold. I borrowed the dealer's demo and while it sounded pretty good, I couldn't stay in the kitchen.

 

[DaveyF]

Are we talking heatsinks..

 

[JackD201]

I had these

 

[flez007]

and me these loved them!

 

[Nightlord]

Cheater amp; Rotel 1090

Not used heatsinks on front, but the make great handles for carrying with landing feet on the back as well.

 

[A.wayne]

One of the most lethal amplifiers I've had at home was this one:

View attachment 7700

Not only were the heatsinks sharp, they went all around the amp so there wasn't anywhere to actually hold the amp, it was damned heavy, and if you tried touching it before allowing it long enough to cool, you got blisters as well as cuts on your fingers. I didn't keep one for long - my air-conditioner in Singapore couldn't keep up with the heat.

The Pass Aleph 3 - I wonder if any were actually sold. I borrowed the dealer's demo and while it sounded pretty good, I couldn't stay in the kitchen.

Lol ..... Great looking eggs .....

 

[Nightlord]

The Pass Aleph 3 - I wonder if any were actually sold.

Once went a guy's place (to buy one of his old cables) who had Aleph 3 driving Von Schweikert VR-4:s. Sounded pretty good. (His purpose built non-rectangular room probably helped quite a bit too.)

 

[DonH50]

One of the most lethal amplifiers I've had at home was this one:

Not only were the heatsinks sharp, they went all around the amp so there wasn't anywhere to actually hold the amp, it was damned heavy, and if you tried touching it before allowing it long enough to cool, you got blisters as well as cuts on your fingers. I didn't keep one for long - my air-conditioner in Singapore couldn't keep up with the heat.

The Pass Aleph 3 - I wonder if any were actually sold. I borrowed the dealer's demo and while it sounded pretty good, I couldn't stay in the kitchen.

Rats, now I am hungry for breakfast...

 

[TBone]

Classe DR2/3 external heatsinks, which get quite hot.

tb1

 

[rockitman]

my amps have beefy heatsinks...

 

[rockitman]

shot 2...