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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
wdl3
13 posts
 
I recapped an Audire Tennendo about four years ago and the cost of the eight electrolytic capacitors in the power supply was over was over $450, so yes the quoted price you received doesn’t surprise me at all. 
bigwave1's avatar
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bigwave1
240 posts
 
For anyone owning, operating a brick and mortar operation, that fee could even be a financial loss considering ALL the overhead expenses. It could be a “loss leader”, written off as a word of mouth advertising expense. 

mahler123
3,373 posts
 
OP
If the amp lasted 16 years it doesn’t owe you much at this point.  You could put a lot of money into it and then something else that is currently working and therefore not going to be fixed at this point might go bad soon.  I would make the 30 minute drive, pick it up, and sell it on eBay for parts, hope to recoup some of what you already spent, and then use the rest of the projected repair cost on a newer piece.  IMO, there hasn’t been that much development (except for the rise of Class D Amps) in amplification technology over the last few decades, and (this is personal, ymmv) MF amps were more known for grunt rather than finesse).  Change can be good
curlyhifi
157 posts
 
Well worth the recap you will not be sorry. I have had some popular "High End Amps" recapped. For that model the price is right.
itsjustme
682 posts
 
I speak with some knowledge since i’ve designed many commercial amps, and recently re-capped, mostly as a favor, a dozen or so ~30 year old units that i know the owners of and were sold under my own label(s). Its a total PITA.

Just an aside, i received some bogus (Chinese counterfeit) caps and had to do 2 a 2nd time!

Some caps can be very expensive, large, high voltage computer grade caps can be $30-70 each. Fortunately it looks like that unit (per the pic provided above) has more common snap-in radial ’lytics that are vastly cheaper. (like 1/4 or less of that, "depending")


Georgehifi, with a pic, paints a reasonable story. I think the price *may* be a little high, but here’s the thing. every amp is different to work on - some come apart easily, some less so. There are several hours on each end of this job before caps are removed or replaced.

Without the specifics answers are meaningless. I would guess, nothing more, 6-10 hours total and $100-250 in parts. I didn’t bother to look for and count the smaller caps.

So was the price high? Likely somewhat. Was it crazy? not really. Its a messy job. What do you pay your tech, or at a small firm, maybe an engineer?

G
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