SummerTime and Amp Heat

I own ARC tube gear. Obviously, the component that runs the hottest is the power amp. The other gear, source and line stage, while also tube driven doesn't run anywhere as hot. I hear what Elizabeth is saying, but my sense of the matter is that heat "ain't" gonna help the gear last longer and can only hurt, especially the power amp. That sucker throws off a ton of BTUs.

There's a couple of ARC authorized techs out there. I'd be interested in their views since they fix the stuff.

I think it's a matter of degree.

I agree with Elizabeth, run it hot. If the manufacturer thought the equipment is running too hot they would have installed a fan. I believe stereo equipment sounds its best when it is running at its normal operating temperature. It is also important for the temperature to be equal for all transistors in the output stage so they can operate the same.

It depends on the design too. I run a fan on some amps that run hot, and can shorten the caps lives. I don't like hot transformers either, power or output. If it runs real warm, I use a muffin fan, summer or winter.

Fans? We don't need no stinkin fans! (loosely quoted from Blazing Saddles).

I live in the desert southwest, A/C works for me. My Pass monoblocks run pretty hot but Nelsons designs account for this and seem to last for a long time. I don't need or like to leave stuff on 24/7. I'd say, just be smart.