Should a dac run hot??

Harnellt - Wadia is on the expensive side and you would probably like to keep it for a long time. The only perishable item, I know of, is electrolytic capacitor. Its life is temperature dependant and it shortens by half for each 10 deg C (18 deg F) temperature increase. The only way that unit (DAC) can dissipate temperature is thru air convection. If temperature is too high it means that convection is too low. Increase it by removing it from enclosed space, by increasing space around it and finally by using very small quiet fan. Tiny slow moving fan should be plenty - anything is better than free air convection.

Kijanki,

Thanks~I just checked it. I have my squeezebox on top of my benchmark (black diamond racing cones under benchmark and it's all on a taller shelf) and it is luke warm. Funny thing - when the benchmark input light is blue, it's warm; when it is red (no digital connection going through), it's hot. I make sure that it's on blue and all ok.

Thanks for your input.

Cerrot - Red light and hot - yes it is puzzling. Internaly AKM chip detects non-pcm stream and turns off processing. It should get cooler if anything - strange. I will check Benchmark's forum - maybe there is an explanation for that.

Consttraveler, 1 MINOR correction....
Agreed....warm yes / hot no.
BUT While it IS true that 'The amount of heat generated is directly related to the electrical efficiency of the device.;
it is ALSO true that the gross power input is also a factor.
Something drawing 100 watts at 90% efficiency will run cooler.. (actually, generate LESS heat) than another device drawing say.....25 watts and only 20% efficiency.
You can have a very inefficient device...a Class 'A' amp, for example, drawing a fair amount of idle current, which is all heat, but the temperature is fairly low due to huge heatsink mass. You may be able to heat a room with it, but you'll perceive it as 'warm'. Cut the heatsinks by half and it'll cook, while generating the same amount of heat.

Magfan:

You are correct. I was trying to keep it simple but should have written "all things being equal."

100 amp tube amplifier = Hot
100 amp Class A = less Hot
100 amp Digital = almost always the coolest.

Dave