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Amp repair cost — is this right?

I recently sent my Musical Fidelity a308cr power amp off to be recapped. This amp is somewhere around 16-18 years old and one of the power caps failed. I contacted Musical Fidelity and sent it to a repair shop they recommended. Today I received an estimate to replace 18 caps, 8 of which are large power caps, resolder the boards, and re-bias the transistors. Basically a full overhaul. The quote I received, including return shipping (prob around $100) Is over $1,300 which possibly exceeds the value of the amp. That doesn’t include the $115 it cost me to ship it out. Having never had an overhaul done on a power amp like this, I’m wondering if anyone with experience can tell me if this sounds right. I guess I was expecting something more like $600-$800 but I don’t know why since I really don’t have a frame of reference. Perhaps it was the assumption it might be 4 hours labor (say $400) plus max $200 for caps. Is $1,300+ on track? Either way I’m going to be out the shipping cost plus a $160 fee paid for the estimate.
jnehma1
teo_audio
2,197 posts
 
Lets be clear, $400 is way too low, and $1300 is off the charts - too high a number.

Somewhere in the middle, maybe.

If it was me, for $1300 us, if I was the tech, it would come back as a wholly different sounding amplifier, and be notably superior. 

Where I would have second guessed all of the orignal designer's work and upgraded the quality of the unit to far beyond the orignal spec. 

changing parts out for new originals, or a basic repair being involved... is in no way shape or form worth $1300US. 

the only people who can charge that kind of money are the ones who have  a ridiculous outsized opinion of themselves, or others have built up the same sort of opinion of them.. simply due to the idea that if they (as customers) pay more, they get more. When really... that's not even remotely true.. 

Or they have too much work on their hands and are only doing the work that pays the highest...all tied to the outsized reputation ...tied a customer base that thinks of things being in a position and reality ---which it can't possibly be. 

Which happens often, far too often in the world of high end audio. It happens in other technical  spheres as well, and it is great work when you can get it... but most audio technicians are in some world of underpaid hurt.
rsf507
2,347 posts
 
My view......the price is what it is maybe a bit high but I'd be inclined to have it repaired. So that's another yes.
marqmike
844 posts
 
Upfront I do not know if that is a reasonable cost for a high quality job or not. In my profession quality cost more because of the time it takes to do a quality job. So getting an opinion from someone like Bill Thalmann ex conrad johnson could be a prudent inquiry.

I had a amp I thought of repairing and rebuilding/upgrading. I didn't do it. I got a new amp and that seemed to necessitate other changes that cost. So you may figure that in to your situation. Not only did it cost  more that just the amp for me to be happy. It took a long time for everything to settle in. If I had to do it over again I would have got it fixed. Just me though.
Post removed 
teo_audio
2,197 posts
 
Lets get this straight.

Those large power caps are about $15 each, MAX. OK? MAX. 

that's $120 raw cost then double that price as included in the repair. So we're at $240, plus and hour at $100 to put them in. Let's be generous and call it $150.

$390. $100 cost to return, max, as they get a discounted rate as they use the shipping service  (UPS/ Fed-EX) often. 

I'm having a tough time finding the other $810US in there.... 

It's impossible, in fact.

I have to stop myself from saying nasty things, here. I'm offended to the core.
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