Costliest Brainfart

Borrowed my friends DIY Class A amp.  Hooked up speakers.  Hooked up speakers in the basement, thinking I would switch back and forth.  Well, I left both sets on.  Only time I have had smoke coming out of equipment.  AND it wasn't even mine.  My friend just shrugged.

My wife hung a flower above our $525 Sony 19" TV.  Looked nice until she watered the plant.

I was comparing several amps, had them sitting of the floor. One was a big monster with a bare aluminum chassis, and another a big Bryston. Was playing something a bit loud through the Bryston when I shifted it just a bit - plastering both terminals against the aluminum chassis. Loud noises and sparks.

Waited half an hour and powered up the Bryston again - and it worked just fine.

It was the last time I tried arc welding with an amplifier, though.

Thanks all for sharing your stories.

mariddock - I like your line of thinking.

Cheers, all.

The expression s--t happens started somewhere and this could be one of those instances where it started or at least where it gained great popularity. Totally unsatisfying experiences seem, periodically, to be a part of this hobby -BUT there is always a way back to system satisfaction. Unfortunately, money is VERY often that way. Sorry to hear of your misfortune.

Hello, Please do not put a claim on your home owner’s insurance for $2k. You will just give them an excuse to raise your rate prematurely. Not sure of the condition of the platter and plinth. If those are salvageable you can go back to the dealer and see what they can do for the arm and cartridge. Sometimes they have a trade in deal or maybe they will be really nice and give you a really good discount. Like $30%. As for the arm if you have to use that arm then get another. If you can choose an arm then get something you might really want like a Kuzma 4 point 11. I am really sorry this happened to you and I am sure one way or another we have all had our bad audio days.