Seems I cannot run a full cd's worth of music without the thermal protection overload shutting off the amplifier (7100 running 5 channels only). Also have blown the Klipsch RC-3 center channel speaker twice now. I usually have the surround mode set to Pl-II Cinema or Music. I ran the system at -04 volumn and after 1/2 the cd the amp shutoff. This is not the first time, so I rebuilt my large front speakers and the center channel(out of necessity) and it again happened today. Could the center being blown cause the shutdown? or maybe I need a fan for cooling? I have a fairly good passive ventiliation closet setup. Any suggestions pals?

Wow, that must be pretty ear splitting with Klipsch speakers. How much air space do you have above the 7100?

Cheers,

The amp is in a 36 wide component closet with 17" space from the amp on top of the rack. I also cut out the back of the closet at 30 x 45 to cool and access the wiring. By the way, it sounds great! I have a log home with 18' ceilings and a big great room design. Ton's of cubic feet so I can really crank it up.

Thanks

How big is your listening area (including adjacent spaces)?

30 x 42 + 12 x 15 so approx 1665 sq ft x 18 ft high = approx 21,000 cubic feet minus the slope on the ceiling sooooo I guestimate 16,000 cubic feet more or less.

Might be time for a bigger amp. 8-) That's a pretty big room for 7x100wpc.

Cheers,

With 1,470 square feet and a sloped ceiling ranging from 18 feet high to 10 feet high (I'll guess there, but any less than that would likely look odd) would be closer to 20,600 cubic feet (a flat 18 foot ceiling would be 26,500 cubic feet). For comparison, my system is set up in a room that is roughly 23'x17'x8' (3,128 cubic feet). You've got a whole lot of volume (space) to fill with high volume (sound), and even with the benefit of efficient speakers that's going to put a serious load on the amp - hence the heat build-up and thermal protection shutdown. You might consider a couple monoblocks (with decent ventilation around them) to drive the mains for that serious CD listening.

Ok Guys, but shouldn't the amp be able to run at -04 db (anyone know the percentage of the amp I am running at that volumne)for some time? I guess that since the amp goes to -60 db to +10db then at -04 I am using approx 80%? Shouldn't the amp be able to run at that output? Believe me, I get all the volumne I need at that setting. So I guess I'll get a cooling fan setup & see if it helps eh?

The processor is at -04 dB, not the amp, and there are a lot of variables tied up in the system. The amp has to contend with the specific speakers being driven, the environment in which the system is operating, the crossover point selected (and you may consider playing with the crossover to take some low frequency load off the amp and put it on the sub), the nature of the source material being played, and the level to which the system is calibrated. As one of my favorite college professors used to say, "it's all in how you draw the control volume."

Oh, guess I was way off with that assumption....I'll try cooling the thing down & see if it helps...

Thanks