Classe CT-M600 fan noise

I am planning my retirement system, and need to do it right. After I retire there is zero money for stereo gear. At this point I am looking at two Classe CT-M600 amps, which are $1000 less than the CA version. From what I have read, these are great amps, but the use of a fan scares me. I listen to a lot of classical string quartet type of music late at night. At that time I can hear anything, and this type of music is sometimes just above silence. My concern is I will hear the fan during these passages. I hate ambient noise, and even moved the refrigerator into the garage to cut down on background noise.

Does anyone have any experience with these amps, and can comment on any noise? They will be on the bottom shelf of an open rack about 8 feet in front of me.

February 12, 2013 - 6:51am

jackfish

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Joined: Dec 19 2005 - 2:42pm

Usually fans on amplifiers are activated by temperature sensors.

So they wouldn't actuate if the amp is in a well ventilated place and is not being pushed hard. Depending on your loudspeakers you are probably only using a few watts at the described listening level. What make and model of loudspeakers are you going to use with these amps? It is likely one would have to be listening at relatively loud levels to actuate the fan. In addition, Classe claims the fan is noiseless. Good luck!

You probably read the review from which these quotes were taken:

"I was amazed to see the amps were barely warm to the touch. The fans were running but at such a level they were inaudible even during quiet passages, and the air being vented as barely warm. This was with both of them sitting directly on top of each other, playing at extremely high levels for hours. I let them run for weeks with various sources to fully burn them in and never found them to be more than warm."

"Even in my test, after hours on end at extreme volumes they never got more than warm and the fans were nearly silent and certainly never interfered with the sound."

hometheaterreview.com December 30, 2010

February 12, 2013 - 10:03am

BlueFox

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The speakers are Aerial

The speakers are Aerial Acoustics 7T (4 ohm). I have read reivews, but am looking for actual hands-on experience. I do not feel like spending $13K and being irritated by fan noise. I suspect you are right, but better safe than sorry.

February 12, 2013 - 11:21am

jackfish

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And a reviewer does not have hands on experience how?

Looks like the issue was addressed in all the reviews I read. Hands on experience from several reviewers stating that fan noise was not an problem. I don't think there are many, if any, Classe CT-M600 owners who frequent this forum. Hopefully you can get their perspective if there are any. Good Luck!

February 12, 2013 - 1:37pm

John Atkinson

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Joined: Nov 7 2010 - 3:31pm

Fan Noise

BlueFox wrote:

The speakers are Aerial Acoustics 7T (4 ohm). I have read reivews, but am looking for actual hands-on experience. I do not feel like spending $13K and being irritated by fan noise.

I am still using the review samples of the Classe CT-M600s and have never been bothered by fan noise. Your Ariel Acoustics speakers should not be a taxing load for the ampilfiers.

John Atkinson

Editor, Stereophile

February 12, 2013 - 5:49pm

BlueFox

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John Atkinson wrote:I am

John Atkinson wrote:

I am still using the review samples of the Classe CT-M600s and have never been bothered by fan noise. Your Ariel Acoustics speakers should not be a taxing load for the ampilfiers.

Thanks. I read your review in this month's issue and saw you were using those amps, and it occured to me to ask here.

On the other hand, "never been bothered by fan noise" isn't the same as being inaudible. I know people who are not bothered by airplane noise and live next to an airport.

May 26, 2013 - 4:04pm

eattoride

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Joined: Sep 7 2009 - 5:52pm

Fan noise CT-M600

I own a pair of CA-M300 - the baby brother to the CA-M600, and I very often drive these monoblocks hard, of course I never here the fan :)

I never hear the fan when playing music softly - they are very quiet when running.

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