Works OK but a disapointment
By Mac Distribution on
May 26, 2010
Verified Purchase
Review submitted for
Technical Pro
FN-4 2.5U Rack-Mountable Single Fan Cooling Unit (FN-4)
(TPFN4)
Pros: Low Price but, Looks Nice
Cons: Noisy, Odd Size
Other Comments: Just being honest here:
I bought this unit after checking out several competing items for my high end home theater equipment rack. The promise was Ultra quiet, 432 CFM "Pumps out the heated air" (Doesn't that mean it Exhausts?) and the new standard for the competition to live up to, and the price was a 1/3 of the competitions. How could you lose? Brings to mind the old adage, you get what you pay for!
First problem with the unit is it pushes air into the rack instead of "exhausting" the heat from the rack as proper thermal management would dictate (blows inward instead of outward). After checking with the manufacture's Tech Support as to reversing the fan flow, was told no way.
Second problem, the unit is an odd size, stated as 3.5 rack units which leaves 1/2 a rack space gap, so now I had to order a special 1/2 rack blank panel available only from the manufacturer, more money invested. Bit even with addition of the 1/2 Rack Panel the unit still does not fit a standard rack rail screw spacing (leaves a 1/8" gap at the bottom, and the top overlaps the upper rack space by a 1/4".
Lastly, and the most important problem, the unit is way too noisy for either a Home Theater application, or a Recording studio application (I'm a Semi-Pro, Audio Engineer and own my own multi track/digital recording studio, a musician, an installer of Audio/Video/Homeautomation products, an electrical engineer, and an acoustical construction contractor, I know what I speak of when it comes to sound reproduction and noise). I have not yet measured the noise output with my DB meter, but my ears hear the problem loud and clear. i.e. TOO LOUD!
The unit does have a nice looking digital temp. display, and looks nice sitting at the top of the Rack. Since Ive already invested time and money into this unit I will remove the noisy fans and install "Real" Ultra quite fans from the competitor (less then 28DB) and I will install the fans the correct way to Exhaust the heat from the rack. In the end I will come close to the cost of the competitors price point, with a whole lot of extra work, and with voiding the warrantee.
My advice, spend the extra money and get a better unit to begin with.
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