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Repair of Classe products

I have owned several Classe amps over the years. Presently I don't own any, however, when I had problems with amp failures I have not been able to find anyone who was able to repair the units due mostly to schematics not being available. This often meant either sending to Classe in Cad. for repairs or making the unit a door stop.

Now that Classe' has closed their door what will become of repairing the units? I don't know of one person in the US that will repair their units and I've tried many of the well known shops. Anyone know of anyone in the US who actually repairs Classe units? Please don't guess, because, as I stated, I tried several shops over the past 15 years. I'm really looking for actual US based Classe repair shops. Their DR and CA series are great pieces and deserve to be serviced!
raymonda
raymonda OP
855 posts
 
So are you opening up for business?
tomthiel's avatar
tomthiel
1,652 posts
 
Raymonda, I am in the same quandry with a DR-6 and a pair of DR-9s that need service. Through the B&W site you can download the service manuals for all the products under the B&W canopy. I'll advise if/when I find a qualified repair solution. Please reciprocate.

Onward, Tom Thiel
czarivey
5,671 posts
 
Teo
schematics often show useful calibration and test voltages. Protection circuits can also be tricky 
classe can supply diagrams on requests 
teo_audio
2,197 posts
 
When one channel out of two is still working, most techs can work off of that. If they have to, due to not having a tech manual. The working channel is the reference for testing/voltages/current/etc and usually a fix for the dead channel is not that far away.

This becomes problematic if the entire amp is dead, or cannot be turned on. It’s then a game for those who like to hurt themselves or prove how good a tech they are, but financially, having the tech manual makes the most sense for a repair shop or tech, that wants to have a viable financial future.

but, in reality, no tech manual for a given power amp that, underneath any and all of the given conditions encountered, still has working channels...underneath that.. the amplifier is ultimately fixable. It just requires more swearing and intelligently applied grunt work. Which, depending on the scenario, can be financially non viable in a repair business scenario, but very (near 100%) doable for the determined and capable tech (outside of time/money constraints).

as stated, I knew of techs who would never touch a piece without a tech manual available..and other techs who spent their entire tech business career doing over half or more of their repair work, in some cases most (~90%) of their work...was done with no tech manuals. There are only so many ways to design and implement audio circuits.
oem-wheels
196 posts
 
I have a Classe CA2200 that now emits popping noise out of the left channel.. Regular sound still comes out but mixed in with the popping.. One time it sent the amplifier into protection mode.. No longer in duty.. So to teo_audio's comment.. No one wants to touch my amp.. Except for one person I almost brought the amp to today... I went online and read some reviews on this guy and half the stuff was bad.. I've tried popular AV shops to see if any of them knows anyone who knows Classe gear and can fix them and not a one said yes..  Going to try B & W Group.. I'll send to Canada if I have to.. No choice.. 
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