metalaaron,

No matter what the brand, most 5-, 6-, and 7.1-channel receivers run fairly warm when all channels are cranking. "Pretty warm" is okay; "too hot to touch" isn't. More ventilation is always better, of course.

My H/K has only about 1.5 inches above it, which isn't nearly enough, but oddly, I've never heard the auxiliary fan kick on in the back. It runs very warm all the time.

Regards,

Alan Lofft,
Axiom Resident Expert (Retired)