Grateful Dead Music Forum

Happy New Year!

I recently bought a McIntosh MC250 power amplifier, and just ordered an SMS Classic Tube Preamp.

I'm planning to rack-mount the Classic, along with a line conditioner / power station (probably Monster 2500 or 3500).

My question is this -- when using a rack case (e.g., a Gator 3-space or larger case), is it necessary or desirable to install cooling fans? I'm worried about the SMS Classic overheating.

Another question for those who have an MC250 or similar -- is there a convenient way to place that on a rack, or where do you usually put it when playing in a gig situation?

Any advice appreciated.

--Brendan

As long as the covers are off the rack when the equipment is turned on, you should be fine. Most rack units don't extend all the way to the back of the rack, which allows them to breathe a bit as well.

If the device has vents in the top or bottom of it, it's not a bad idea to leave a space between it and the closest unit if you can. The vents are there for a reason and it's not good to block them off. When I rackmounted my Trio, which has vents in the top, I just mounted it in the top of the rack so the vents would have a little extra breathing room up top. The AxeFX has a built in fan, but it's more of a computer CPU than a tube device. You can buy a cheap 1-space blank rack plate so there's no unsightly gap in the rack.

Preamp tubes don't generate all that much heat, in my experience, but perhaps Brad will weigh in.

playingdead wrote:As long as the covers are off the rack when the equipment is turned on, you should be fine. Most rack units don't extend all the way to the back of the rack, which allows them to breathe.

If the device has vents in the top or bottom of it, it's not a bad idea to leave a space between it and the closest unit if you can. When I rackmounted my Trio, I put it on the top of the rack so the vents would have a little extra breathing room up top. The AxeFX has a built in fan, but it's more of a computer CPU than a tube device.

Preamp tubes don't generate all that much heat, in my experience, but perhaps Brad will weigh in.

Cool. (No pun intended.) Thanks.

You can try Steve from Audio Classics in Vestal NY. They are a Mcintosh dealer. When I was using my MC2120 he found me a pair of rack mounted ears. The MC2120 was outfitted with threaded holes on either end of the faceplate for the ears.

http://www.audioclassics.com/

Really good guys who know their shit about Mcintosh's.

Equipment designed for rack mounting should also have been designed for front and rear venting...

If it wasn't, the assclown that engineered it should be shot!