Class D amplifiers without fans

[thebassist]

Leading on from the loud fans thread, I’m looking for class D amplifiers that don’t have fans at all?

I know the Trickfish Bullhead 1K doesn’t have a fan and I’m pretty sure the Phil Jones BP-800 doesn’t too?

Any more?

[ahpook]

Followed, good topic.

 

[Reggaebass]

Following too, lately I really don’t like fan noise when I’m practicing at home, which is why I’ve been looking at all valve amps, but I’d be interested in seeing what class D amps have no fan.

[Passinwind]

1 hour ago, thebassist said:

Leading on from the loud fans thread, I’m looking for class D amplifiers that don’t have fans at all?

I know the Trickfish Bullhead 1K doesn’t have a fan and I’m pretty sure the Phil Jones BP-800 doesn’t too?

Any more?

Acoustic Image

 

[ahpook]

The Phil Jones D-400 is fanless too.

[fretmeister]

TecAmp Puma 300 (not the bigger ones though)

Demeter VTBP-M-800D

(amazing amp that. I sold it. Idiot.)

[franzbassist]

1 hour ago, fretmeister said:

Demeter VTBP-M-800D

(amazing amp that. I sold it. Idiot.)

And the Demeter 400.  Sold my 800, always regretted it, now got a 400

[grenadillabama]

Ashdown Superfly - the 250 w per side version. Mine gets warm though.

[thebassist]

Acoustic Image too.

[ryancowell25]

Sonic Farm Tantra - no fan

[Cuzzie]

Tech21 dUg Ultrabass

[bassace]

On 19/09/2020 at 16:35, fretmeister said:

TecAmp Puma 300 (not the bigger ones though)

 

Puma 500 doesn’t have a fan.

[PaulWarning]

I may be wrong but the Fender Rumble 500 V3, if it has a fan it's noiseless

[Dan Dare]

Higher power class D modules do, although they are more efficient than traditional designs, generate fair amounts of heat when driven hard. Heat sinks are often not viable because of their small size. A heat sink needs to be large enough to have plenty of surface area to work properly. Components are packed tightly together on the modules, meaning that those which generate heat have little or no space around them - so you can't mount the power transistors directly to a large enough heat sink, the way it's done on traditional designs. So the only practical solution is usually a fan, or even multiple fans, as is the case on my AG700. For practice/studio work, the best answer is probably a smaller, lower powered model - TE Elf or similar.

Edited September 24, 2020 by Dan Dare

[Passinwind]

3 hours ago, Dan Dare said:

Higher power class D modules do, although they are more efficient than traditional designs, generate fair amounts of heat when driven hard. Heat sinks are often not viable because of their small size. A heat sink needs to be large enough to have plenty of surface area to work properly. Components are packed tightly together on the modules, meaning that those which generate heat have little or no space around them - so you can't mount the power transistors directly to a large enough heat sink, the way it's done on traditional designs. So the only practical solution is usually a fan, or even multiple fans, as is the case on my AG700. For practice/studio work, the best answer is probably a smaller, lower powered model - TE Elf or similar.

 

You can mate the heats sinks on the module used in your amp to a bigger one and it'll work fine without a fan, at least in my experience. But I defintely don't run my amps as hard as many people do, and having the absolute smallest and lightest form factor doesn't matter at all to me. 

[TonyMontana]

If you only need the poweramp, the GSS Sumo are fanless.

[thebassist]

I think it's pretty weird that fans are used/needed nowadays.

I acknowledge that not everyone cares about fan noise but I know plenty of other folks do care about it - I use the same amplifier for practice as I do for performing live so at lower volumes, a fan kicking in really irritates me.

If Phil Jones, Acoustic Image and others can build a small, lightweight, class D amplifier without a fan, I wonder why Aguilar, Darkglass, etc. can't or won't do it ...I really fancy a Darkglass Microtubes 900 but the fan means I won't get one.

[fretmeister]

Apparently the V2 Darkglass has a much quieter fan that is also variable speed.

Not tried it myself though.

I remember when the V1 was announced. The early pics had a larger chassis and were without a fan. They clearly wanted a smaller unit so needed a fan.

[BillyBass]

On 24/09/2020 at 09:39, Dan Dare said:

 For practice/studio work, the best answer is probably a smaller, lower powered model - TE Elf or similar.

Except the Elf's fan is a bit noisy.  I'm guessing that due to its form factor, the fan is more important.  It is certainly louder than the fan on my MarkBass Marcus Miller 500W head

[thebassist]

13 hours ago, fretmeister said:

I remember when the V1 was announced. The early pics had a larger chassis and were without a fan. They clearly wanted a smaller unit so needed a fan.

Darkglass, Aguilar, etc. must be capable of building their amplifiers without a fan but I suppose that the market/expense just doesn't justify the hassle.

With a fan:

• Darkglass Microtubes 900V2 (900w): 255 x 267 x 70 mm
• Aguilar TH700 (700w): 305 x 229 x 76 mm

Without a fan:

• Phil Jones BP-800 (800w): 317 x 190 x 63 mm
• Acoustic Image Clarus SL (600w): 188 x 183 x 53 mm

[dafonky]

Hevos amps DO  NOT  have  a fan 

 

Edited May 25, 2021 by dafonky

[Reggaebass]

42 minutes ago, dafonky said:

Hevos amps DO  NOT  have  a fan 

 

I’m not familiar with those, I’ll have to have a look 🙂

[BassAdder60]

My RM800 has a fan but it’s so quiet you would really struggle to hear it 

[Reggaebass]

6 minutes ago, BassAdder27 said:

My RM800 has a fan but it’s so quiet you would really struggle to hear it 

Yeah, the fan in the RM500 is so quiet you don’t even know it’s on 

[BassAdder60]

1 hour ago, Reggaebass said:

Yeah, the fan in the RM500 is so quiet you don’t even know it’s on 

I agree .. probably one of the quietest amps with a fan I’ve heard

Definitely use it in the studio it’s that whisper quiet 

Edited May 25, 2021 by BassAdder27