I sit about 8' from my stand that has a TV on top. The stand has two shelves with about 12" from shelf to shelf and is completely open on all sides. In the spring and winter time when I keep my house at about 60 degrees Fahrenheit the fan was annoying. In the summer time when the temp gets 75 or 80 degrees it is unbearable, which is why I would up moving the PS3 into another room.