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I think my CAL Alpha DAC is broken...

I've owned the 24/96 version for at least a dozen years. Lately, it has become very temperamental about what tubes it will accept. The left channel blows out anything other than a Sovtek 12AX7WB! I've had the following new-out-of-the-box tubes fail within the past year: Sovtek 12AX7LPS (3 of them!), TungSol ECC803 and Sovtek 12AX7LP. Typically, they last only a few hours.

I'm eventually going to take it for repair, but I'd appreciate any thoughts on:

a. why it might be doing this now?

b. why the Sovtek WB seems more robust?

Thanks.
mbailey
garebear
1,146 posts
 
Dump it and buy another one
tiger
313 posts
 
Agree, dump and buy another one. Repairs are not cost effective on this unit, typically the bench charge can run at least $150, if you can find a knowledgeable tech. I have two cal labs units, one has the alpha processor the other sigma. Great units, sweet sound, great value.
kana813
956 posts
 
Sounds like some bad caps in the power supply.
vegasears
1,173 posts
 
I had my Alpha repaired by the guys at approved audio service a few years ago. CAL had long since closed there doors. Approved was the east coast service provider for CAL. The cost of my repairs were worth it to me. Funny after they opened mine up they called me and asked where I got it. It turned out to be kind of special. see the link below to my old thread on the issue. Yes I still have it but do not use it often.

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?ddgtl&1158371576&openmine&zzVegasears&4&5#Vegasears

www.approvedaudioservice.com
rodman99999
6,129 posts
 
I bought a spare LASER unit from Approved Audio when I owned my ALPHA/DELTA combo and Icon MkII. They seemed very knowledgeable and trustworthy. If I were going to have one rebuilt: I'd buy another pair of NOS Telefunken ECC803S's to pop in there(VERY transparent and extended).
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