2. amps-preamps
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100 W Tube Amplifier Malfunctioned

I will not name the brand of the malfunctioned amp in question, except to say that it is a US brand and it is not a boutique shop. I bought direct from factory as there were no dealerships in my region of the world, Taiwan. As I traded in my old amps, I was given a discount and paid $5,000 for the pair. 

My system consists of a Verdier Turntable, A MFA Luminescence preamp, a Wadia 16 CDP and Eminent Technology LFT 8b speakers. The amps were brand new and worked well for 6 months. Then one of the amps malfunctioned. I sent it to a local technician, and determined that the transformer was shot. 

The malfunctioned amp was sent back  at my expense. After inspection,  I was told that the amp failed because it was operating over voltage. Our power grid delivers 110 v electricity.  And in order to be certain, the other amp which was perfectly fine was requested to be sent back for inspection. 

The solution for repair was to increase the VAC of the amp to 125 V, obviously for both amps, and the tubes will be inspected and biased accordingly. The cost for repair will be $ 850 for each amp. My questions is: Should I pay for the repairs? I was told the reason for the failure was due to the fluctuation of our local power grid. Therefore, the user is at fault. However, if it is  power grid is the problem, then why did only one amp fail? Would it not be a reasonable assumption that there are quality control issues at fault? 

Given that there are brand new amps ( six months old ), isn't paying $ 1650 for repairs unreasonable? Any insight would be appreciated. 
ledoux1238
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ledoux1238 OP
284 posts
 
@ roxy54 @ joyctoy, I wanted to get unbiased first reactions from folks in the community by not naming names. 

The amp is from Von Gaylord Audio. It’s not the most well known of brands, but owners’ opinions here have always been favorable.  

@ oldhvymec,  I use a Audio Magic Stealth power conditioner. But it is not a surge protector. On two occasions I experienced local power outages while playing the amp. I immediately switched off the amp. 
According to my friend, who is an electrical engineer, voltage here in summer peaks is usually 108 V, and maybe 109  V on cooler months. It rarely reaches 110 V and above. 
@ srereo5  The local technician never worked on the unit.

@ atmasphere Thanks for your input, Ralph! 

I am told if the amp is simply fixed, without changing the VAC, then there’s no guarantee that it wouldn’t malfunction again! The solution is to change the VAC, and the problem will not happen again. 
ledoux1238 OP
284 posts
 
The reason for buying this new amp, The Nirvana Mono, was because one of the previous amps, The Triode Mono from Von Gaylord, malfunctioned. I sent both amps back to Von Gaylord for repair.  I was told that amps being some twenty years old were beyond repairable and was offered an upgrade. 

Before sending the first pair of amps back, A lot of research was done. And I concluded that I would stick with Von Gaylord if an upgrade was offered. 

Please don’t misunderstand, the  Nirvanas, when operational, were sensational driving the ET LFT 8’s. I was enjoying the amps tremendously. I have only good things to report on the musicality of the amps. 

It’s the email exchanges on the repairs that have really irked me. I really don’t know what caused the malfunction, aside from the hypothesis that it’s electrical power fluctuations on my end. And to get slapped with a $ 1700 price tag for the repairs........
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fuzztone's avatar
fuzztone
5,635 posts
 
It sure sounds like they are shirking.
Tell them you had it plugged into a Tripp Lite LC-1800 fed by a Zero Surge 2R and that they are full of stinky rotten pupu caca.

BRAND PLEASE.
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