• TalkBass has been independent since 1998. Add your voice.
    Create a free account to reply to discussions, view embedded media, and browse with fewer display ads.
    Join free Log in
    Want zero display ads or expanded classifieds tools? Compare plans.

Dread returns, warranty claims (amp shipping damage)

LetItGrowTone

LetItGrowTone

Gold Supporting Member
Apr 2, 2019
3,392
5,980
#1
I'm not going to return this and I've probably violated the warranty anyway. I don't care about that:

I finally bought an extremely popular Class D amp, new. Upon arrival, even before opening the box, it sounded as though the main power supply/power amp board was flopping around and the screws were rattling around. Opened it up and confirmed this.

Good news - found the 8 screws.
Bad news - also found two capacitors that had broken off and were rolling around, 2x 47uF 63V, C106 C107, which came from very near the headphone out. EDIT: These were broken off by the heavy power board flopping around; it isn't a separate issue.

While there was no guarantee that this would kill only the headphone out (which I don't especially need), as I didn't trace the circuit, I finished inspecting everything (with a magnifying glass), reinstalled the power supply/power amp board, and tried it.

Bad news - power amp doesn't work (but no noise/smoke, smells new).
Good news - the full-featured preamp works perfectly, and I do look forward to trying it with other amps I have.

I intend to replace those two capacitors and try again. If no fix I might send it in someday when I can bear to live without it. Oh, I'll keep the box for once.

***
-I don't believe that the factory released it like this.
-Second thought was that a previous purchaser had opened it (to steal a part?), didn't reassemble, and returned it. I don't believe this either because such a slob would have left other evidence, and I looked carefully for it and didn't see any. Case screws were uniformly tight and unscratched, etc.

-Finally, I suspect that it was shipped upside down and these screws backed out from vibration. If this is the case then I guess the manufacturer has seen other examples, or should be warned about it.

That's all I have.
 
Last edited:
  • Like
Reactions: SixtyCycleHum
#2
LetItGrowTone said:
I'm not going to return this and I've probably violated the warranty anyway. I don't care about that:

I finally bought an extremely popular Class D amp, new. Upon arrival, even before opening the box, it sounded as though the main power supply/power amp board was flopping around and the screws were rattling around. Opened it up and confirmed this.

Good news - found the 8 screws.
Bad news - also found two capacitors that had broken off and were rolling around, 2x 47uF 63V, C106 C107, which came from very near the headphone out.

While there was no guarantee that this would kill only the headphone out (which I don't especially need), as I didn't trace the circuit, I finished inspecting everything (with a magnifying glass), reinstalled the power supply/power amp board, and tried it.

Bad news - power amp doesn't work (but no noise/smoke, smells new).
Good news - the full-featured preamp works perfectly, and I do look forward to trying it with other amps I have.

I intend to replace those two capacitors and try again. If no fix I might send it in someday when I can bear to live without it. Oh, I'll keep the box for once.

***
-I don't believe that the factory released it like this.
-Second thought was that a previous purchaser had opened it (to steal a part?), didn't reassemble, and returned it. I don't believe this either because such a slob would have left other evidence, and I looked carefully for it and didn't see any. Case screws were uniformly tight and unscratched, etc.

-Finally, I suspect that it was shipped upside down and these screws backed out from vibration. If this is the case then I guess the manufacturer has seen other examples, or should be warned about it.

That's all I have.
Click to expand...

SO frustrating! I expect something to be more blemished than originally mentioned when I buy it used, but not NEW. Heck, sorry man..
 
  • Like
Reactions: LetItGrowTone
#6
FFEJY said:
What's the point of this thread? I don't understand.
Click to expand...
The purpose is that anyone who might recognize this: "2x 47uF 63V, C106 C107, which came from very near the headphone out" might also see this: "I suspect that it was shipped upside down and these screws backed out from vibration. If this is the case then I guess the manufacturer has seen other examples, or should be warned about it", and tell me whether or not that is a ridiculous theory.
 
#12
No manufacturer intentionally builds an amp like this, but occasionally an amp will be screwed with by a customer (or even a service tech) who then returns it and it gets resold by a dealer who wasn't aware of this. It doesn't sound like shipping damage (IMO) unless the screws were broken off or bent.

It should be repaired properly IMO, if it's truly a manufacturer's issue than that should be covered under warranty but if it was for some other reason it needs to be returned for a refund or exchange.

What amp was this? If you bought it new, have you reached out to the dealer yet?
 
  • Like
Reactions: ddnidd1, One Way, Gearhead17 and 8 others
#14
agedhorse said:
...occasionally an amp will be screwed with by a customer (or even a service tech) who then returns it and it gets resold by a dealer who wasn't aware of this. It doesn't sound like shipping damage (IMO) unless the screws were broken off or bent.
Click to expand...
Thank you. I'll go with that.
agedhorse said:
It should be repaired properly IMO, if it's truly a manufacturer's issue than that should be covered under warranty but if it was for some other reason it needs to be returned for a refund or exchange.
Click to expand...
I've done nothing except reassemble it.
Ok, I'll try to return/exchange. Thank you.

agedhorse said:
have you reached out to the dealer yet?
Click to expand...
No.
 

Latest posts

Top Bottom
Back