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My #@%$ Cat Destroyed My ARC REF 5SE. Soliciting Suggestions.

(Public service announcement-keep your pets away from your audio equipment)

I love my cat. But not as much as I once did :-)
The short story is cat pee corroded the main board to my ARC REF 5SE. 

Homeowners insurance doesn't cover repair or replacement because owning a pet means you assume liability/responsibility. Ironically, or strangely enough, If my neighbor's cat or dog did this, I could collect.

My options-
Repair it. Fixing it will cost 7K. The main board alone is 6K.
Buy a pre-owned replacement at close to similar price. And if I go pre-owned, what's the market on a REF 5SE with a destroyed main board.
Go in a different direction.

What would you do?

TIA,
David
wharfy
wharfy's avatar
wharfy OP
428 posts
 
@audiogabby -it's "in the shop." I am currently using an older Onkyo integrated until it gets repaired. I bought the Onkyo just before the birth of my now 25 year old son. It's been in storage. Sound fromthe Onkyo not bad. Interestingly, I really appreciate how good my ProAcs are with the amp driving them.
wharfy's avatar
wharfy OP
428 posts
 
@carey1110 -I heard the REF 6. It's fantastic. It has the great qualities of the REF5SE and deeper bass, higher top end (without the harshness) and incredible imaging and spatial placement. It's also $$$$, soalas I will wait.
bifwynne
2,206 posts
 
wharfy,

I am very sorry to learn about the cat issue.  I used to own the ARC Ref 5SE and IMO, it was a very fine sounding linestage.  About 2 years ago, I traded up to an ARC Ref 6.  Big overall improvement, especially in the bass. 

If you are still interested in an easy fix, I see preowned Ref 5SEs listed for sale on Audiogon for ask prices that are less than ARC's quoted repair quote.  OTOH, if you are willing to put some more money into your rig, the Ref 6 or Ref 6 SE will be a good choice.

Again, sorry to learn about the cat problem.  I am sure you learned a painful lesson about letting your cat have access to your rig.

BIF       
falconquest's avatar
falconquest
1,108 posts
 
" Hi, I am sorry for your loss but I am not a big ARC fan now for many years! "

Hi, sorry for your loss but I am not a big cat fan now for many years! As a matter of fact I’m no longer a pet fan. Don’t need them. Had horses, dogs, cats, birds etc. The best pet is someone else’s.
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