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Audio Research amp repair in New Jersey/New York

I bought a used REF75SE last month from a reputable dealer who either listed it knowing an LED was out in one of the meters or overlooked it. THey're not being as proactive on helping get it repaired as they should be in my opinion and are letting me do all the leg work which has been a pain in the neck- calling ARC many times, getting vague answers, no urgency, minimal help. Now ARC is supposed to be sending me the ten cent LED that may or may fix the problem. Either I need to install it or take the amp to a servicer - and there seem to be virtually no authorized servicers around in NYC or NJ- and any servicer I talk with is cagey about turnaround times, some quoting 2-6 months which is freaking absurd. Not rocket science to be able to call a customer on a wait list and let them know that they have bench time available in a week and then drop it off rather than drop it off only to have it sit on a shelf for 2-3 months before being looked at. 

 

Does anyone have any advice , referrals on servicers in the New Jersey area, NYC as a fallback? They don't need to be "authorized" just competent.

 

Thanks- I love the amp but if getting it fixed is going to be so much hassle I may consider returning it. 

speedthrills
elliottbnewcombjr
5,654 posts
 

My McIntosh, they mailed me the LEDs, I removed the faceplate, switched lamps (easy), done.

My Vintage Yamaha, cover off, replace burnt lamps with new ones I bought on eBay, done. I stuck with 'wheat' incandescent, many people today convert to LEDs.

Not too handy: cleeds mentioned VAS, he is right, they can fix anything!

Steve and his son Ray at VAS are terrific people.

https://vasnyinc.com/

cayinus@yahoo.com

1-732-888-3288

If you have the part, he might fix it while you wait. Write/call and ask him, pick a time with him, drive it there. If it proves tricky, leave it with him.

Tell him Elliott, Jim, Darius, Rick sent you! I met them all here, we meet and listen here, go there in pairs sometimes.

Where do you live? I'm in Plainfield, NJ, 35 mins from VAS

curiousjim's avatar
curiousjim
4,931 posts
 

@speedthrills 

Give the LED to The dealer you bought the amp from and let them fix it for free!

speedthrills OP
160 posts
 

Thank you everyone! What about ARC's authorized service center in NYC, Technetron? Has anyone had had any experience w/them? They are preferred by ARC and seem to have a good reputation but want $360 to diagnose the unit and the $360 goes toward the repair- is this typical ? They say about two weeks turnaround time which is attractive but I really won't know until it's too late and they have the unit I suppose. 

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
5,440 posts
 

Ben Jacoby in Brooklyn is ARC authorized. Reach out to him. Also, check with SkyFi audio in Glen Rock NJ. They might recommend someone local.
Other than that, you can just use the amp as is. That LED has no bearing on sound quality. 

jeffseight's avatar
jeffseight
578 posts
 

I noticed during the most recent Youtube video at AR Commissioner Gordon

walked thru the expanded office in MN. Only one service tech on hand.

There were two when I toured the facility 1 1/2 years back. 

If you are getting all bent out of shape because the retailer you bought from

is less than helpful I'd say either your story is missing some key details

or you chose a bad dealer.  One burned out LED is not worth wasting so many peoples time. 

 

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