Amps and fan noise

[Amplified]

Amp manufacturers should consider using brushless fans that are quiet.

 

[BassmanPaul]

When did musicians stop being musicians ?
I never got that memo

I guess as soon as they got into the Corvette!

 

[beans-on-toast]

For every noisy fan, there's an ultra quiet one that can take its place. My SVT fan is dead silent.

In the case of amps that have fans that ramp up and get noisy when they are hot, there may be a simpler solution. Get a small quiet desk fan and point it at the amp. It helps circulate the air around the amp and it runs cooler. If you have a fan, it's worth a try.

 

[richbassboy]

The new fender rumble amps have a uber quiet cooling fan. The new ampeg ba v2 series are very loud and annoying.

 

[bebass]

Traynor SB200H and SB500H - Ultra-quiet.

 

[Dp1363]

I've just bought and about to return an Aguilar TH500 as I can't stand it when the fans kick on full after 20 minutes use. I know it's all part of the cooling system that allows this amp to run at full power without thermal shutdowns, which is something some other micros may struggle with. But when it comes on the amp is still cool to the touch, I just wish it had more of an intelligent fan speed control so that it was on at slow speed then ramped up gradually as required, instead of sounding like a vacuum cleaner being turned on halfway through my practice session.

I've had other amps in the past that have been whisper quiet, such as the Genz Benz Streamliner and Markbass LMII.

My Orange Terror Bass was noisy too but I put in quieter computer fan and it's now unnoticeable but still provides plenty of airflow and has no issues running for hours in a warm room at high volume.

I'm interested in trying a Mesa Walkabout, I hear these are noisy buggers too but again some people have ended up modding them.


So, my questions to you all are:

- Which amps have you used that had an unbearably loud fan?
- Which amps have you used that were quiet?
- Have you ever modded the fan on your amp?

Yea I agree on the Markbass. My LMT800 has a dead quiet fan.

 

[Kroni]

The resurrection of an old thread!
I just recently purchased a used Peavey 700 Tour Head from an older man that bought it new several years ago & played it in church only. Plays and sounds great but has a loud fan. Is this loud fan normal ?

 

[agedhorse]

Amp manufacturers should consider using brushless fans that are quiet.

Necro-response to this comment... all manufacturers DO ALREADY use brushless motor fans.

 

[Radchenko]

Hello,
And Aguilar tone hammer 350 have a loud fan please? Thank you.

 

[bikeplate]

Had a TH500 for a while. No fan issues

 

[agedhorse]

Hello,
And Aguilar tone hammer 350 have a loud fan please? Thank you.

Give your Aguilar dealer or distributor in your region a call and ask them how to handle this.

 

[Coot]

Quilter BB800 fan was very loud and had mechanical whine .

 

[zombywoof5050]

My Quilter BB800 (bought in May 2018) does not suffer from excessive fan noise.

 

[Artman]

All three versions of the Hartke 3500, a Mosfet TA, a bipolar Model 3500 TA, and an HA-3500) that I have owned were wind tunnel loud. The later two have recieved a quiet fan mod. In my study, I can still hear it whispering along when I'm not playing, but it is not obtrusive or bothersome in the least.
The fan in my Rumble 500 v.3 head is effectively dead silent, even after playing loud for hours. I can barely hear it if I place my good ear right up next to the fan grille if the rest of the room is quiet.
Side note: IMHO, both the Rumble and the Hartkes sound great.