Rivera Hammer 320 - Can I modify it to run fanless.

MAD

Hey everyone,

a while back I stumbled onto a rivera hammer 320 tube amp (160 wpc rms).
The issue I'm having is at low volumes I can hear the fans.
It was designed as a rack mount with a sealed top cover.

I was wondering if I made some sort of cage cover (which would run just on the top and round over at the back... the sides would be sealed) could I disconnect the fan?

Do you think the tubes would overheat?

As you can see there are spaces around the Rivera lettering, the fans push the air out through them.

The amp has some cool features... like adjustable presense and focus one of which adjusts the dampening factor, switches on the back to choose between pentode and triode mode. It was designed to be a studio amp as well as a guitar amp and is known for being true to the signal with very little coloration.

I'm currently running the sda srs 2.3 and the sl2000 seem to have lost their harshness while still remaining live sounding (you can adjust the brightness through the pressence control)

Here is the site with info on it: http://rivera.shptron.com/p/tbr-5-hammer-320-new-old-stock
It has an inside shot of the tubes.

Thanks for any advice in advance

CoolJazz

I'd say from looking at it that it's fan design was to accomodate the idea it'd be racked, surrounded by other hot devices and they wanted the protection the cover offers. Designed for the typical pro environment.

You could probably run it very safely with the cover completely removed. It'd be just like every other tube amp of that style then. Make notice of other tube amps that use a similar tube compliment, and you've got a good guideline for what you can get away with. If you need a cover, then make one from some kind of heavily perf'd material. Every bit of blockage it would have would be of concern as raising the heat.

Also, note if the bottom cover has opening to allow intake air. If so, make sure your placement method allows for what's intended. If there is air flow thru the deck possible, then even if it doesn't have bottom intake, you might make a bottom cover that would allow the typical upward flow of warm air to help with air movement past the tubes.

In any case, an amp like this when fanless and set into a rack needs lots of free air space around it. As in don't have a shelf closely above it!

CJ

kcoc321

I 'hear you' about wanting to get rid of fan noise
What I would suggest is upgrading the fans. IDK if I would just eliminate the fans... Would hate for you to burn something
From the pics on the linked page, they look like standard 80mm fans. You will need to check the power connectors for compatibility. (should say size on them) FYI, the larger ones move more air with less noise, hense if you can use a larger one, 120mm are usually quieter than 80mm.

There are some really quiet, variable speed fans made for computer cases, and most of the better ones are super quiet and also some have a temperature control for the speed. That way, if it does get hot, the fan speeds up, otherwise you can't really hear them.
Also adding rubber isolation grommets at the mounting point can help with the sound transmission factor as well.

Here are a couple I found in a quick search on Newegg. If you have a good computer store around, they will have them as well.
(read 'not bestbuy')
Look for the lowest dB rating.. the best ones are around 18dB... can't hardly hear them even when right in front of you.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Submit=ENE&N=100007998%2050001333%2050001453%2050001379%2050001516%20600035565%20600035580%20600035623&IsNodeId=1&name=Variable

Irrenhaus

Hi

Why don't ask Rivera about running with no fans on well ventilated non-rack mounted environment.

Cheers

PolkieMan

There are lower noise fans out for computers that push the same amount of air they usually have 3x more vanes than a regular case fan. So you can run them at a lower rpm and get the same airflow

MAD

Wow, you guys are awesome.

I will email Rivera about it, good call.

To be safe I could probably run some quieter fans.

I would still love to leave the top open to see more of the tube glow.

Thanks for all of the replies.

I need to refinish the top cover as there are some deep scratches in the metal, maybe sandblast and paint it a matte black.

Thanks again,

Mike

PolkieMan

I would go with a shiny gloss black I used this on the top of a Sony Mega Cd player and it came out pretty nice.
Rust-Oleum Appliance Epoxy
http://www.homedepot.com/p/Rust-Oleum-Specialty-12-oz-Specialty-Appliance-Epoxy-7886830/100141519#.UncA2-I4GaU

http://www.amazon.com/Cooler-Master-Bearing-Cooling-Computer/dp/B002R9RBO0/ref=sr_1_4?s=electronics&ie=UTF8&qid=1383530895&sr=1-4&keywords=computer+fan+silent

MAD wrote: »

Wow, you guys are awesome.

I will email Rivera about it, good call.

To be safe I could probably run some quieter fans.

I would still love to leave the top open to see more of the tube glow.

Thanks for all of the replies.

I need to refinish the top cover as there are some deep scratches in the metal, maybe sandblast and paint it a matte black.

Thanks again,

Mike

MAD

Just emailed Rivera... why didn't I think of that.

I'll keep you all up to date.

Thanks

MAD

No emails back yet…

I am however really enjoying the tube amp. At first, compared to my kenwood 700m, I felt like something was missing, but I realized that all the details are there… it just sounds smooth and different.

I can't really describe how, it is definitely not as fatiguing and the human voice sounds very realistic.

EndersShadow

Personally if you plan on replacing the fans... use these. Worth the 17 bucks.

http://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16835608028

I run one in my mini PC and its inaudible for me. I also run 5 of them in my desktop tower and they have been running 24/7 for over 4 years and have yet to even try to burn out.

Decent sound profile, last forever and move a decent amount of air.

Also if you could find a way to connect them to a fan controller with a thermal probe you could ensure that they only kick in a temp X. I have a fan controller on my computer and all my fans run at 1000 rpm and again are inaudible.