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are there any rules about how much space to give an AV Receiver to avoid it overheating?

i'm thinking about getting the Denon AVR-1910, but it's 17cm high and the shelf under the TV unit where i'd store it is only 21cm high.

is 4cm enough room?

Hi.

I have a 1909, this is housed in a cabinet with 3 50mm dia holes in the back for cables / ventilation.

The cabinet has a door on the front which is closed during use, it does get hot, very hot, but has never over heated.

I had about the same space around as you do, but i have now disposed of my DVD recorder and remove the inner shelf giving another 10"  above.

If your set up has an open front this should keep it cool enough.

Hi.

Not sure drilling holes in the shelf it sits on would help, there is very little heat dispursed downwards from the amp.

Natural convection will tend to draw cooler air through vent holes in the sides / base of the receiver's case and expel hotter air through the vents in the top. 

 If the receiver has an internal fan, this will probably be set to blow air out the back of the unit (yuou can test which way it's going with a B&H).  I would reckon on having at least an inch on the sides, top and back. 

Drilling holes in the shelf won't do much more than weaken the shelf IMHO, and if the front is open then you should have enough ventilation to draw fresh cool air into the cabinet.  The problem will be expelling the hot air out of the cabinet.  If you are concerned, I would recommend cutting extra (large) holes in the back panel.  You can find hole saws in the tool departments of most DIY stores.

A hole saw (in case you don't know what I'm talking about):

 http://www.diy.com/diy/jsp/bq/nav.jsp?action=detail&fh_secondid=9287718&fh_view_size=10&fh_start_index=30&fh_sort_order=1&fh_sort_by=_price_rrp_min&fh_location=%2f%2fcatalog01%2fen_GB&fh_search=hole+cutter&fh_eds=%c3%9f&fh_refview=search&ts=1257628070360&isSearch=true

This one comes with a number of different size cutters.

If you're using one, cut half-way through from one side, then switch around and cut all the way through from the other side.  The drill bit in the middle will centralise the cutter, and you'll avoid splitting any veneer finish on the wood.

proffski:

Guys, the equipment may not be overheating to the point of protection circuitry latching in but you are shortening the longevity of your beloved Hi-Fi. Electrolytic capacitors do not like it hot!  A fan will just recirculate hot air inside a cabinet...

Agreed, hence the suggestion of cutting extra holes in the back and leaving the front open.  Natural convection will take care of the rest.

DJEPSON:

I am fine for space at the back and sides and the front is open, its just that the top is extremely tight, I considered taking the feet off the amp and trying to use something slightly lower that would give more space on top, but then wondered if these would affect anything else