PS Audio DirectStream Power Plant 12

[David A]

What about fan noise from the two active fans?

The old P5 did have some fan noise but I have read that the P12 is using larger fans.

My dealer was concerned about the fans. When I rang him to order the P12 after using the P5 for a while I told him that the fans don't work. They simply don't switch on in my system. It's not drawing enough power to heat up enough to trigger the fans. I've had the P12 in the system for 5 days now and the fans still haven't kicked in. I'm in Australia in Brisbane which is sub-tropical and we're heading into summer and getting some early heat wave conditions in the state. Temperatures today hit 34 degrees Celsius outside. It's currently 26 degrees inside and humid at 10/00 pm and I've just been listening to the system for a bit over 2 hours. The fans did not kick in.

Fan noise is not an issue with the amount of current my system draws because the system isn't drawing enough to cause the P12 to break a sweat. The status screen tells me I'm drawing around 51 watts and using 4% of capacity while playing music. The only reason I suspect I'll ever hear the fans kick in is if the temperature in my room, which isn't air conditioned, gets into the high 30's and if that happens I'll go and stand over the P12 and let the fans blow air on me to cool me down as well.

With a large class A or class AB amp fan noise from the P12 might be an issue. After nearly 2 weeks in total with a loaner P5 and my P12 and more than a few hours listening during the day on some vey hot days, I have yet to hear the fans start up. I can't see it ever being an issue with my 140. It might be an issue with larger amps but Arup's photo of the status screen shows he's only drawing 70 W (0.72A) with a 440 and that represents 8% of load capacity so he may well not be having the fans kick in either. With your 250 you should be seeing power and current draws that are between Arup's and mine and since you're living in Denmark I doubt you're going to see the temperatures I see here. If Arup isn't having the fans kick in then you shouldn't either but he hasnt said whether or not he's had them kick in. Perhaps he'll respond on this issue.

BTW, when I say the fans haven't turned on, I mean exactly that. It's not just that I've never heard them. I've gone over to the unit and looked through the ventilation opening on the top of the unit and the blades are clearly visible and stationary. They are simply not turning on for the load my system places on the P12.