External temperature Wiim amp ultra

[Indydan]

Mine gets warm to the touch. I really do not worry about it. I did put footers underneath the original feet, to raise the bottom of the Wiim. There is now more airflow underneath.
As others have said, do not put another device under or over it.

 

[trbt]

Any mention of "hot" or even "too hot" is pointless unless an actual temperature reading is provided.

Any mention of actual temperature is pointless since "hot" or "too hot" is entirely subjective.

 

[harkpabst]

Any mention of actual temperature is pointless since "hot" or "too hot" is entirely subjective.

Subjective and totally irrelevant. If you insist on not wanting a device that feels too hot subjectively then you have to buy and try them all until you're happy.

A device overheating by objective measures is a totally different topic and very relevant.

 

[trbt]

It is relevant, since subjective is the whole topic of this thread. Overheating is not, as far as I can see.

 

[slartibartfast]

It is relevant, since subjective is the whole topic of this thread. Overheating is not, as far as I can see.

If it's subjectively too hot then don't touch it . If the case wasn't warm it wouldn't be doing a very good job as a heatsink.

 

[harkpabst]

It is relevant, since subjective is the whole topic of this thread. Overheating is not, as far as I can see.

Each to their own. I for one read the OP in a different way:

Wondering about the temperature on he outside surface of my Wiim amp ultra. It's getting petty warm there ....after some hours operating.
Should I be worried?

Emphasis by me.

 

[MotleyG]

The WiiM Amp Ultra is my first Class D amp and I expected to run cooler than my previous AB amp, and in deed it does run cooler, but you can feel it warm, pleasantly warm in these colder months.

Keep in mind the size of these WiiM units as well. Many of the older "standard" size 17" wide amplifiers had heat sink modules that were easily larger than the entire Wiim units.

 

[trbt]

If it's subjectively too hot then don't touch it . If the case wasn't warm it wouldn't be doing a very good job as a heatsink.

Oh no worries, nowhere have I stated that its too hot
Nevertheless, it appears it isn't doing a very good job at being energy efficient at low volumes.

 

[mrehorst]

Nevertheless, it appears it isn't doing a very good job at being energy efficient at low volumes.

That's how electronic stuff works. The internal circuits don't require less power because the signal level is low. The wifi, DSP, and DAC all require power regardless of the signal level.

Switching power supplies all have efficiency specs. Those specs are based on rated output current. If you use less current, the efficiency goes down because of the power required by the supply itself.

 

[mrehorst]

I just got a thermal camera and decided to have a look at my WAU after running for about an hour. It's driving Quad ESL-63s (86 dB efficiency) down to 80 Hz with an SVS 3000 Micro sub taking over from there. Volume is moderate. Ambient temperature is about 19C.



Bottom side:

 

[QuarryHunslet]

I just got a thermal camera and decided to have a look at my WAU after running for about an hour. It's driving Quad ESL-63s (86 dB efficiency) down to 80 Hz with an SVS 3000 Micro sub taking over from there. Volume is moderate. Ambient temperature is about 19C.

View attachment 32111

Bottom side:

View attachment 32114

It's quite cool then.