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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
georgehifi's avatar
georgehifi
10,312 posts
 
jnehma1 OP

To dismantle (unsolder those transformers and the chokes he used) and anything else, pull the boards out of this, and do all the electrolytic caps on them, as well as the power supply caps.
And then to bench test, measure everything, watch the scope with test signals to make sure it’s stable, then re-bias the whole thing when it’s hot, it looks like a days job to me to do it with care.
https://img.canuckaudiomart.com/uploads/large/503121-d6573fea-musical_fidelity_a_308_cr_dual_mono_pr...

Cheers George
Post removed 
noromance's avatar
noromance
9,894 posts
 
@joecasey I've no problem with profit. In the example I used, feel free to give your money away. I work hard for mine. 

@ptss I ended up hiring a tiler and plumber. Pulled a permit and did the whole thing to a better spec for $9k.

charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Hi jnehma1, 
Agree, good thread. You generated insightful commentary from some of this site's very knowledgeable and experienced members. Good information for all. When I joined Audiogon 12 years ago this type of behavior and interaction was commonplace. 
Charles 
glupson
7,842 posts
 
"I already know what the amp is worth to me."

Why exactly are you asking us if $1300 repair is worth to you?
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