Cabinet clearance for Audio Acoustics LS16 tube pre-amp?

djones51, yes I can build a false wall in the back and intended to from the beginning. Will put flush mount power strips there. At each shelf level there will be openings in the false wall for cables allowing some additional air flow.

And yes, I can mount a fan there. It would not have a very good exhaust path though because these low shelves will have high shelves going up either side which will preclude side vents. Vent openings on the top shelf would be unsightly and this is part of a set of bookshelves which are intended to be an attractive part of the decor. My "music" room is not really my room or entirely a music room as it doubles as a TV room and den.

The owner's manual says it recommends a fan if the cabinet has a closed back. It says this is in case of "long periods of time in hot ambient air". They do not say what they mean by "hot". We keep the house at no more than 78 degrees in the summer time. Usually 76. 

I am prepared to put the unit on top if need be. I wish I had measured operating temps while the unit was running in the summer. Then I could compare them with the unit on a shelf and move it if temps were to run higher.

I deleted my post I noticed cleeds already linked to the company that makes the airplates used in av cabinets I was thinking could be used in a false wall. They are flush mount you can  google , airplate, to see the flush mount fans. 

It came as an email notice.

The other problem I have with putting the pre-amp on top is that the top shelf will have to have substantial openings for all the cables to go down through and the Transparent RCA  and balanced cables have 'bricks' on them requiring even more room for cables. Such openings would be fairly ugly and as mentioned this unit is supposed to be 'part of the decor'. I like things nice looking but this is my wife's room too.

If the pre goes on top it will be sitting next to the TT.  Was hoping to have the TT as the only thing on the top. That way it would only require a small desk type grommet for the RCA and power cables.

Designing this unit is really difficult. If all I needed to do was make something to hold audio equipment in the most effective way this would not be that hard.

That it is part of a built-in system that has to fit the room and the built-in bookshelves that will go beside it adds another level.

That it has to look good and fit with the molding and trim of the room adds yet another.

At this point my plan (which changes every 10 minutes) is to have the pre-amp on the next to highest shelf. It will have nothing within 10 inches either side of it. It will have 3 inches clearance above it and it will be on blocks giving it 2 inches of clearance below it. It will have six inches clearance behind it. The shelf below it will have vent holes. There will be no heat producing components anywhere below it.

I checked out the link to the fans cleeds provided. Interesting. They do make a front exhaust model which would be the only one that would work for me but it would suite the purpose.

Sound level is reported as 24 dB.

While I’m not a major audio tweaker I do wonder what folks with power conditioners and Noise Harvesters in all their outlets would say about putting an electric motor physically on top of their pre-amp? Maybe no issues at all. I just don’t have any idea.

As mentioned I could put a fan in the false wall on the back. Initially I did not think it would have enough air flow but if it blew outward (into the room) over the top of the pre that might work since I could provide entrance for upward airflow drawing cool air from the bottom of the shelf unit.

One way to get an idea of how hot it gets is make a box out of scrap wood about the size of the opening you want the preamp to fit in, set it over the preamp and run it for a few hours and see how hot it gets. That's the way I was thinking about the fan. Use a  small flush mount in the back blowing the air  outwards , get one with a thermostat I doubt it would run that often.