AMR dead in the water (Boat anchor)

[Sir Triode]

On 23/03/2017 at 9:42 AM, Juicester said:

Bit short sighted. There's duds in any brand. They have a manufacturing tolerance, but invariably something will go wrong with at least a few units off the production line. Sucks for the OP though. Hope it gets sorted.

Agreed that there are duds in every brand but how the manufacturer deals with repairing those duds should influence your decision in purchasing from that brand.

[Sir Triode]

On 24/03/2017 at 8:52 AM, al said:

 

its standard practice to expect return to where bought from for service. all consumer rights are also with the retailer

 

 

not unusual really. IP is gold these days...especially when the chinese will bung out a copy if can get their hands on stuff like that. an nda as requirement would be pretty basic I would have throught. and many makers wont even go that far. eg we read last year how emotiva would no longer send parts to get things fixed by some 3rd party repairer. thats not unusual. they want to control a lot closer and suspect what could be the go here too. 

AMR products made in China anyways?

[Sir Triode]

On 24/03/2017 at 6:42 PM, georgehifi said:

 

With a circuit diagram/service-manual, a good local qualified tech knows just as much of the laws of electronics to fix this, as a tech in the same country as the product was imported to that the importer has commissioned to do his repairs for him.

 

Even a big company that imports many many hiend overseas product like Joe Rediga of Audio Excellence/Advance Audio uses Kimil Electronics a local private repair shop for all his more complex hi-end repairs.  

 

Cheers George  

He also uses Eddie Lee.

[georgehifi]

21 hours ago, Sir Triode said:

He also uses Eddie Lee.

I think more for older tube gear, with also Elson Silva if they are friendly at the time.

 

Cheers George

Edited April 13, 2017 by georgehifi

[Sir Triode]

2 hours ago, georgehifi said:

I think more for older tube gear, with also Elson Silva if they are friendly at the time.

 

Cheers George

 

Yes mainly for tube gear (not restricted to the old stuff) and CD players as Eddie only likes servicing tube gear. 

[Grimmie]

 

All's well that end well?

 

Well, maybe so. The beast is back and working a treat (touch wood)  After leaping through all manner of hoops, - aflame and non fiery, my techie has come good. He's described to me all he had to go through to get it fixed and the debt he (and I) owes to Cameron at Max Media for his enormous help finding a resolution to this.

 

Whilst I can't go into too much detail of the in and outs or the finer details of what was done and how, I now have a much replaced, improved and upgraded unit that is a real pleasure to have back in my system. The end result is quite special, I'd forgotten just how bloody good this pre/DAC could be. Now that the Rotel pre has been relegated back to the laundry cupboard I'm spinning vinyl like a dervish's pimp.   and loving the beautiful sounds. Of course a saga like this ain't gonna come cheap and I'm severely lighter in the hip-pocket by well into four figures, but such is life, and my kids are just going to have to be a little more disappointed with their inheritance. (Though not too soon I hope)

 

Why vinyl when the AMR is supposed to be one of the better DAC's around? Well Murphy's law applies here, as it seems to do to all my life, and the power supply to my Bel Canto CD player crapped itself the same time as I got the AMR back. So no digital as that's my only source. I know, bad luck hangs around like a rude smell in a lift, but hopefully once I get that replaced I should be right for a while. 

 

So anyone got a 12v - 1.5A - 18w, power supply they want to sell? of a decent quality of course. How I'd love the matching Bel Canto one, but they seem to have stopped making them and would be bloody exxy for my diminished wallet. I've called in at W.A.R. audio a couple of times to see if he has anything as he used to be the BC importer but I can never catch him there. Anyone still have contact with Pat? Otherwise I may take up an offer from one of SNA's regulars Clay, who makes PS's though I haven't got too much info on his gear.

 

Anyway, vinyl is no hardship for a while so I'll survive.

[Jventer]

@Grimmie

@ AJ that is now in Perth could possibly help - pm him with your problem.

I have not had one of Clay's power supplies, but I had his dac's.  I have met him a few times at GTG's and have visited his shop. IMO he sells his stuff way too cheap and I can recommend him any time. 

[loki65]

@Grimmie  Hey Ged

 

Good to hear you got the AMR sorted out.

BUMMER, sorry to hear about your power supply.

I found the best way to get In touch with Pat at WAR audio is to send him an email and arrange a time to meat him there.

 

Hope you get it sorted out soon. It's a shame to have those stunning speakers silent.

 

Cheers

Dave

 

[AudioGeek]

If you have more than one component failing, maybe there is a bigger problem somewhere in the chain

[georgehifi]

12 hours ago, Grimmie said:

and the power supply to my Bel Canto CD player crapped itself

 

That's fixable.

 

Cheers George

[Grimmie]

16 hours ago, loki65 said:

I found the best way to get In touch with Pat at WAR audio is to send him an email and arrange a time to meat him there.

Hope you get it sorted out soon. It's a shame to have those stunning speakers silent.

 

Pat's an elusive feller hey. I think those in the know can catch him but he's rarely at his shop unit, never answers the phone, so OK I'll try email but not hold my breath.

 

The SGR MT3.2's aren't quite silent, I have my records to keep me happy for a while and the analogue inputs on the AMR are pretty damn good. Rather an expensive volume control though.

 

My techie from the AMR repair is seeing if he can find a decent PS too, he may come up with something second hand that does a good job.

[Grimmie]

4 hours ago, georgehifi said:

That's fixable.

Cheers George

 

Hi George, the Bel Canto PS was never an impressive part of the deal, in fact it was barely a glorified wall wart, unworthy of the really good quality of the CD2. So I won't bother trying to get it repaired, just do what I maybe should have done a long time ago and upgrade the thing.

 

Your an experienced electronics geek from what I've read, what's your recommendation for a high quality power supply that wouldn't need Gina Rheinhart's check-book to fund.

[Grimmie]

17 hours ago, Jventer said:

@Grimmie

@ AJ that is now in Perth could possibly help - pm him with your problem.

I have not had one of Clay's power supplies, but I had his dac's.  I have met him a few times at GTG's and have visited his shop. IMO he sells his stuff way too cheap and I can recommend him any time. 

 

Thanks Jventer, I play darts on Thursdays with an AJ but very much doubt it's the same one, mine's of Indian descent and a fierce competitor especially if it's 5 - 5 and the final game's the decider. (sorry, a bit off-piste there) I can't find AJ, (yours) what happened to the 'Members' listing?

[georgehifi]

17 minutes ago, Grimmie said:

 

Hi George, the Bel Canto PS was never an impressive part of the deal, in fact it was barely a glorified wall wart, unworthy of the really good quality of the CD2. So I won't bother trying to get it repaired, just do what I maybe should have done a long time ago and upgrade the thing.

 

Your an experienced electronics geek from what I've read, what's your recommendation for a high quality power supply that wouldn't need Gina Rheinhart's check-book to fund.

 

Sorry Grimmie, I thought it was this one.

http://www.coherent-systems.co.uk/images/Belcanto/Large/LNS2b.jpg

 

So your wall wart one says 12v 1.5A  18w.

Do you know what size dc plug it uses, they are usually round  with a  2.1mm or 2.5mm centre hole you can check this by seeing which size drill shank fits the hole as it's hard to measure or tell by eye.

 And if it's positive centre?

If so I could recommend something if you give me those details.

 

Cheers George 

 

 

Edited July 29, 2017 by georgehifi

[Jventer]

@Grimmie

This is weird @AJ has "dissapeared". Last I knew he was in Perth, but cant find him on website either?

Anyway - he built power supplies for some of us here on SNA.

I still recommend Clay - contact him with what you need and see if he can build you something.

 

 

Edited July 29, 2017 by Jventer
Typo's

[georgehifi]

Just get this, it's linear very good, it has a 2.5mm plug but a reducer to 2.1mm is only a couple of dollars.

 

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/TeraDak-DC-30W-FPGA-DC12V-1-5A-Hi-Fi-For-Audio-Linear-Power-Supply-/182590542043?hash=item2a833e90db:g:63IAAOSw3gJZJduf

 

There's bound to be to be regulators again inside the player, so there's no need to go over the top.

 

Cheers George

Edited July 29, 2017 by georgehifi

[Grimmie]

 

10 hours ago, georgehifi said:

 

Sorry Grimmie, I thought it was this one.

http://www.coherent-systems.co.uk/images/Belcanto/Large/LNS2b.jpg

 

 

I wish George, that looks the bizz and costs it too at S$618 + P&P from Michigan.

 

9 hours ago, georgehifi said:

Just get this, it's linear very good, it has a 2.5mm plug but a reducer to 2.1mm is only a couple of dollars.

 

http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/TeraDak-DC-30W-FPGA-DC12V-1-5A-Hi-Fi-For-Audio-Linear-Power-Supply-/182590542043?hash=item2a833e90db:g:63IAAOSw3gJZJduf

 

There's bound to be to be regulators again inside the player, so there's no need to go over the top.

 

Cheers George

 

Doesn't look too shabby either especially at a seventh the cost. I do wonder though at the performance of the two units and others like them. Can a power supply make the kind of difference to sound quality to make paying that much more worthwhile? If I knew it did I'd send off to Coherent no worries. Here's their blurb:

 

The LNS1 is a low noise power supply based on the concepts behind the superb performance of the VBS1 and powers one VB compatible unit. It features a low noise rectifier and filter circuit driving a high performance 12V switching power supply followed by LC filters to achieve a low 90 microvolt rms noise floor over the audio band. This is more than 120 dB below the 12V output. It is designed to enhance the performance of our FM1, DAC1.5, or CD2 products and serves as an excellent entry level option to power the DAC3.5VB mkII.

 

The TeraDak has this to say: Features

• low-noise linear regulated power supply

• High quality used toroidal transformer

• EMI filter for reducing AC power noise

• High quality power regulation with Panasonic FM capacitors

Is the difference between them just the country of manufacture and sales pitch?

[Rob181]

Looking forward to George's response...

From everything I have read this is his forte... 

My understanding is...YES...get the power supply right...

You are on the right road to GREAT sound...

[Grimmie]

And then again, right in the middle cost wise and a trusted SNA supporter to boot is @Geiseler Audio (from another thread)

Edited July 29, 2017 by Grimmie

[Grimmie]

Tried to make that snip a bit bigger but no good, - may need your good glasses.

[Rob181]

Clay gets my vote...

Made in QLD...support if it hits the fan...

Best idea yet...

[Orpheus]

On 23/03/2017 at 7:20 AM, Marc said:

 

I've never understood who decides what a reasonable amount of time is though?

Ultimately if the parties can't agree, it would be a tribunal or court. 

 

The law is full of "reasonableness" tests, because they allow a decision-maker the flexibility to do what seems just taking into account all the circumstances.

 

Of course even with quite expensive equipment, a legal battle, even in a Tribunal or small claims division of a court is not economic, so it is really a question of the parties trying to negotiate a fair outcome themselves.

[georgehifi]

Grimmie, Belcanto are no fools, if all they supplied was a wall wart type power supply with cd player, then you can bet it was good enough for the job asked, and as I said the power supply regulation and smoothing is most probably done inside the player.

 

As your wanting to go better than what Belcanto thought was sufficient, then the $90 Teradak I linked to is serious overkill to what Belcanto thought was good enough.

 

Cheers George   

[sir sanders zingmore]

On 29/07/2017 at 0:06 PM, Jventer said:

@Grimmie

This is weird @AJ has "dissapeared". Last I knew he was in Perth, but cant find him on website either?

Anyway - he built power supplies for some of us here on SNA.

I still recommend Clay - contact him with what you need and see if he can build you something.

 

 

 

He seems to be here : @A J

you need the space between the "A" and the "J" 

[Mat-with-one-t]

I had a good experience recently.  In a world where negatives get the louder voice, time for a feelgood story.  Are we all tucked in?

I got an Audioquest Dragonfly Red USB DAC a while ago as a gift (lucky me) from a family member.  It got little use, then we moved houses/did a Reno and it was put away.  I set it up again with a laptop recently and soon afterwards channels were dropping out.  I noticed the headphone input jack had loosened (it even rattled).  Then it didn't work at all.

I spoke to the giver of said gift, who didn't have a receipt, couldn't find any record of purchase, and wasn't quite sure whether he'd bought it in Aus, USA or Singapore!

I tried Addicted to Audio (where it MAY have been purchased), but no record.  I spoke to Ambertech (distributer), but they said I needed to go through the dealer.  But I didn't have a dealer!

So I wrote to Audioquest.  They were fantastic. I told them the story, and after a few emails, cc'd an email to Ambertech saying they agreed to replace it.  They even asked me to send it reply paid.

Now that's service!

 

And my favourite was my Melbourne built Music Labs amp.  True story. I used that thing non stop since 1997 without a hitch.  Parties, share houses, you name it.  The only slight thing was the selector switch was worn and needed a little giggle every now and then.

Now I have the original paper work, and it states a "20 year warranty".  So it turns out after just over 20 years, I run into the designer and builder - Jon De Sensi.  A true gentleman.  I got to chatting and told him about my beloved workhorse.  I mentioned the selector ('cause he was interested to know how the unit had gone), and without a flinch he said he'd fix it!  Not only that, he installed a bypass via the tape out so I can use it as a pre or integrated.  And the cost?  Zip.

suffice to say I recently bought his new design absolute killer "Open Audio Designs" balanced power amp.....here's to the next 20 years of music.

Edited August 3, 2017 by Mat-with-one-t