heatsink and magnetism

[anders.a]

About heatsink material

There just seems to be discussions about thermal effects not magnetism on this board and on the internet.
Anyone knows if heatsinks in magnetic materials make any difference? Does it affect any components if so in what way? Any links would be appreciated.

[pinkmouse]

Most heatsinks are made of aluminium. Aluminium is not magnetic. That's why it's not discussed on the internet.

[eLarson]

Anders - Check out DNM's site. Morecroft has definite opinions on the subject.

(He even talks about the insulator they use to attach the transistors to the heatsinks, even though they are aluminum and therefore nonmagnetic.)

[BrianDonegan]

Interesting site. Apparently they aren't concerned at all about RF Interference, as they offer no shielding what so ever. This is just a casual comment, after a casual browse of their site. Looks like lots of little antennas on the circuit boards.

I live very near a radio transmitter tower, so this is something I am concerned with a great deal.

[kilowattski]

I am no expert but at a minimum I am suspicious of such claims.

[Magura]

Originally posted by kilowattski
I am no expert but at a minimum I am suspicious of such claims.

Well, I've solved the issue about what to believe in such matters once and for all.

To me it's quite simple, we know that eddy currents is for real, and we know that RF noise is for real. I have failed to hear any influence on the music by eddy currents, but have frequently had RF niose problems due to cell phones,switch mode PSU's and motors.

Solution.....plenty of metal in the casing to keep the niose out.....and a lot of happy listening

Magura

[kilowattski]

Amen. I like big metal chassis.

[anders.a]

Magura

So one shouldn’t worry about magnetism from the heatsinks?

[Magura]

Originally posted by anders.a
Magura

So one shouldn’t worry about magnetism from the heatsinks?

I personally couldn't care less about the magnetism of the heatsinks......if you take a look at the factors that we know influences the sound to an extent that we all can hear, the by far most important factor according to solid state devices and heatsinks is to make the best possible heat transfer from the device to the heatsink and to make the temperature steady and even for all the devices.
This is the reason I advocate sturdy heatsinks.
If you take a look at the average heatsink, the back-bone is too skimpy to actually utilize the heatsink. This is done in order to save material.

Like with engines "there is no replacement for displacement".

If you take a look at the heatsinks I use www.briangt.com/gallery/magura , you will see that they differ quite a bit from the heatsinks you see most people here use.
The heatsinks in the gallery are based on the same heatsinks as the ones I used for the AX-100 chassis "kits" I made for Steenoe and Seve.
They weigh in around 3kg. a piece


Magura

[anders.a]

I'm planning to use heatssinks made out of galvanized steel.