Sony high-end fans soon on other brands devices?
The Nikkei reports that later this month, Sony will start marketing a low-noise, long-life air cooler fans to consumer AV equipment manufacturers and that it is “the first time that the company has ever marketed air cooler fans and bearing components to other companies”. But the question stays if those companies will be buying them or not.
These fans (AirFlex SSFF21B) are the ones used in Sony’s high-end QUALIA series 005 LCD TV. What makes them different is that they are equipped with a fluid dynamic bearing instead of the usual ball bearing. That gives them a noise level of 29 dB (A) at maximum airflow, which is approximately 3 dB (A) lower than a ball bearing fan with similar cooling performance.
Geek-wise, the fluid dynamic bearing “has a longer life span, reflecting our proprietary, resin housing, which blocks oil leakage,” said a Sony spokesperson. “Average time to malfunction when operating under dynamic pressure is 170,000 hours”. The fan case measures 120 x 120 x 25 mm. The maximum airflow is 1.68 m3 per minute.
And if you are still reading and you really want to know more, Sony will also market the fluid dynamic bearings used in the fan. Costs are 1,000 yen ($10) for the fans, and 300/400 yen ($3/4) for the fluid dynamic bearings.
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