Hartke KB12: fan is too loud

#42
wiscoaster said:
Yes, of course, agreed, and that's the risk you take modifying your amp fan control. On the other hand, if the fan noise is so irritating and obtrusive, the only alternative to taking the risk is buying a different amp. It worked out for the people in the video. Will it work out for anybody else? Don't know until tried.

The fan in my amp only runs when the amp gets hot. Obviously some manufacturers put temperature controlled fans in their amps and some don't. For the amps that have continuous fans, is it because the amp requires a constant airflow, or is it because the manufacturer cheaped out? Again, don't know until tried.

Finding out always means taking a risk. Know what the risk is, and either be OK with taking it, or if not, don't.

Personal approach toward risk management is "different strokes...etc etc".
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I see the results of people’s risky choices and DYI attempts of a solution where they do not fully understand the problem regularly. It’s usually the root cause of the subsequent failure which costs more to fix (if it’s even repairable).
 
#43
Another studio solution if you can't get an amp without a fan - Go direct and have the studio put out a speaker for the bass and talkback, etc. If the orchestra isn't using headphones how else was that going to work?

I suppose the studio may not have such a thing? If so the definition of "studio" has changed beyond my recognition! (and I'm from the "let's put on the show in the olde barn" era - we made do with some very non-fancy cobbled together systems out of necessity.
 
#44
Stylee Mousse said:
Another studio solution if you can't get an amp without a fan - Go direct and have the studio put out a speaker for the bass and talkback, etc. If the orchestra isn't using headphones how else was that going to work?

I suppose the studio may not have such a thing? If so the definition of "studio" has changed beyond my recognition! (and I'm from the "let's put on the show in the olde barn" era - we made do with some very non-fancy cobbled together systems out of necessity.
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With an orchestra, the conductor may wear headphones, but rarely anyone else. Too many musicians, too much fuss. Old school.
 
#45
Either the fan is bad (bearings dying) or the amp is a poorly designed POS.

I wouldn't bother replacing the fan. I doubt its bad. With these types of fans, there's a high correlation between fan noise and airflow. If you replace the fan with a quiet one (I prefer Noctua), then you're almost certainly going to significantly reduce airflow, which of course will increase heat in the amp and reduce it's reliability, safety and life expediency.

It's certainly possible to engineer an amp that can put out more power and run almost silent, e.g. my Crown power amp. Hartke tried to save a few $$ using inadequate heatsinks and a lack of thermal management engineering.

Just turn up the volume until you can't hear the fan? Seriously? That's your "solution"? That may work for my 600W head, but this is a 1x12 bedroom combo. So I guess the volume control would be pretty much useless - not even sure why they put um on amps.

Replace the amp - its a POS.
 
#47
Joshua Heath said:
Jumping in a bit late here, but I took my KB12 apart yesterday, and the fan is a 60x25, not a 60x10. Currently looking for a silent fan to swap in.
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I bought this one, but haven't had the time or courage to try installing it (I can screw things up pretty easily).
 

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