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Post by petesteinis on Oct 26, 2021 11:21:53 GMT -5
I lost the right bank on my amp and brought it in for repair. Outcome was the caps were all bulging and two were burnt . It was about 6 years old . For the cost of repair, I might as well buy a new amp. I would have thought that this could last longer especially how heavy the beast was.
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ttocs
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Post by ttocs on Oct 26, 2021 12:03:45 GMT -5
Well, with 24 capacitors I can imagine the cost. But is there something else out there you like better vs bringing the XPR back to like new working order?
FWIW a few years ago my Krell went back for all caps to be replaced. This was under warranty, but I asked what the cost would've been if I had to pay and that would've been $650 at that time. That wasn't bad then, and if the price increased to $1000 today it still would be worth it for my amp because a new amp with similar capability would be at least six times that.
I guess, from what it sounds like, you've thrown in the towel on your amp? May I inquire as to what the repair cost would be? Just curious, but understand if you don't want to share that info.
However, if you were to go ahead with repair, you'd be well served to replace the caps for both channels, or maybe that's what the repair shop intended?
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cawgijoe
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Post by cawgijoe on Oct 26, 2021 13:39:10 GMT -5
What you need is a friend who is either an EE or into electronics to help you do it. Capacitors are really not expensive....check out places that sell them such as Mouser. The key is having the soldering knowledge and the electronics ability to test.
The problem, as with most services is the cost of labor.
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Post by audiobill on Oct 26, 2021 14:07:26 GMT -5
Be happy those caps lasted until just out of warranty!
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Post by petesteinis on Oct 26, 2021 14:14:40 GMT -5
The price was $1365 and I should have asked if they would be using higher quality capacitors. I was told everything looked well built but that they really cut corners on the caps.
I don’t have the money right now to repair the amp and am not sure if I would if only to get another 6 years out of it.
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Post by teaman on Oct 26, 2021 14:55:06 GMT -5
I lost the right bank on my amp and brought it in for repair. Outcome was the caps were all bulging and two were burnt . It was about 6 years old . For the cost of repair, I might as well buy a new amp. I would have thought that this could last longer especially how heavy the beast was. Beyond disappointing. To think that replacing caps costs as much as the amp retailed for... |
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Post by teaman on Oct 26, 2021 14:56:17 GMT -5
Be happy those caps lasted until just out of warranty! Exactly how is that a good thing in any way? Had they went bad under warranty Emotiva would be on the hook for the repairs. |
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Post by audiobill on Oct 26, 2021 15:18:39 GMT -5
I wouldn’t have bet on those caps lasting two years, a weak spot with Emo amps based on many reports.
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Post by modicen on Oct 26, 2021 16:19:57 GMT -5
What a disappointment, Did Emotiva use cheap caps?
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Post by brutiarti on Oct 26, 2021 16:44:10 GMT -5
The capacitors probably will be an easy fix. The issue is the control board that there is no replacement available and probably almost impossible to repair.
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Post by petesteinis on Oct 29, 2021 17:28:30 GMT -5
I picked up my amp today after telling them not to fix it. He said they couldn’t find the caps anywhere locally and the Emotiva ones were twice the cost. He said to wait a few months for the supply to increase and price will come down.
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Post by audiobill on Oct 31, 2021 17:07:03 GMT -5
Maybe Emo will sell you more at cost, that is if you would be content with those, I wouldn’t be.
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Post by leonski on Nov 5, 2021 18:23:05 GMT -5
Be happy those caps lasted until just out of warranty! I NORMALLY give audiobill high ratings. But regretably, not today..... PS caps should last 2 decades or longer in regular use. Laying an amp up for a couple years THAN applying full power might be a problem... But for someone who runs the amp 3x to 5 x weekly and never 'cooks' it? I'd be REALLY hot those caps failed. AND replace them all...... If they are 85c? (temp rating) go to 105c IF you can find drop in equals or better. ONLY settle for a first tier manufacturer. Be careful buying wacky off-brand caps. You'll be back where you are NOW in just a few years. Again. If the amp is used in a 'restricted' airspace? Take care of that before putting back in service. Heat Kills. Hotter / Faster. Short of humidity condensing on /in the amp? It's tough to over-cool.... Caps to buy? Panasonic Computer Grade. ELNA. Rubycon. Nichicon. A few others qualify, but these occur to me right off the top.... My KENWOOD integrated? Late 70s KA7100. Still works fine. Caps show NO bulging or other signs of distress. I think it has ELNA caps..... |
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Post by audiobill on Nov 5, 2021 18:38:38 GMT -5
Leonski, you misunderstand me. I’ve never observed that Emo amps sport top grade caps as you list, but I could be wrong. Hence, lucky they lasted this long. Once in a while, you get what you pay for, and rebuild or trash sooner.
I guess I tend to think that parts quality has something to do with performance and long-term reliability.
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Post by leonski on Nov 5, 2021 20:25:59 GMT -5
OH! I see..... I'm certain without ever popping the hood that EMO does NOT use first tier caps. Too Bad......
But this is a game of Microns and cost is king.
I will repeat that PS caps SHOULD go 2 decades in regular use. But don't think I'm picking on EMO.......
NAD had REAL problems years ago. Amps were having some real problems.....I'm not certain they replaced the dead caps
with 'better' or simply replaced 'em to rid themselves of that crumby stuff and took the attitude of 'wait the warranty out'......
Which is why I'll steer clear of NAD going forward.
And when I look at the part in the VTA amps? ALL good stuff. I'm so tempted I'm losing sleep!
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Post by garbulky on Nov 5, 2021 21:22:44 GMT -5
Leonski, you misunderstand me. I’ve never observed that Emo amps sport top grade caps as you list, but I could be wrong. Hence, lucky they lasted this long. Once in a while, you get what you pay for, and rebuild or trash sooner. I guess I tend to think that parts quality has something to do with performance and long-term reliability. What about these caps are bad that you suspect won't last past warranty? I own the XPA-1 gen 2 hence my concern... I bought mine because I wasn't anticipating having any problems for at least 10-20 years. |
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Post by mauriceminor on Nov 5, 2021 22:27:01 GMT -5
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Post by leonski on Nov 6, 2021 1:19:16 GMT -5
Leonski, you misunderstand me. I’ve never observed that Emo amps sport top grade caps as you list, but I could be wrong. Hence, lucky they lasted this long. Once in a while, you get what you pay for, and rebuild or trash sooner. I guess I tend to think that parts quality has something to do with performance and long-term reliability. What about these caps are bad that you suspect won't last past warranty? I own the XPA-1 gen 2 hence my concern... I bought mine because I wasn't anticipating having any problems for at least 10-20 years. For you or I doing a rebuild or recap, it makes no sense to buy other than the best we can find......Perhaps DigiKey as vendor? But if you are counting pennies, you MAY purchase a less stringently tested or sped'd part. You'll have to go to Digikey to see just WHAT any given PS cap costs. For the XPA-1 which has a mountain of 'em? You may even get a very slight discount buying 2 dozen or whatever it takes to recap a PAIR of amps. www.digikey.com/en/products/detail/nichicon/LKG1J103MKN/6161688This is just an EXAMPLE from the Nichicon LKG series of 'audio' electrolytics. A litte more $$$ than I'd expected. But this is a 10,000mfd / 63 or 71 volt / 85c part. I'm certainly NOT good at the search function at Digikey, but did wander into this part. And for SURE. In the case of big PS 'Lytics? Better, or 'tier 1' parts DO last longer. Nelson pass has mention 20 or 30 years for such parts. I have no reason to doubt him. I just looked at a photo.....the XPR-2 DOES take 2 dozen PS caps. 'capacity' / voltage / temp rating unknown..... |
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