Blown Parasound

carwashguy

I have a new Parasound 5250 that has lost two channels in two months. The first time it lost the first channel (closed fuse), this time the second. It is very difficult to un-install this beast and my nearest "authorized" service center is 300 miles away. does anyone have experience with these amps? Am I doing something wrong to keep losing channels like this? Any help is appreciated.

stubby

When you say it is difficult to "uninstall" the amp, is it due to all the wiring or because it is in tight quarters? If it is in a cramped location you could have an issue with heat. Those LSi's are 4 ohms and will put a helluva strain on an amp.

I believe there is an authorised dealer (Parasound and Polk) in OK City. They should be able to help you out. Good luck!

stubby

carwashguy

It is just a pain in the neck to pull it out of it's rack and lug it around, think it weighs in the 80 lb range. Sadly the nearest authorized repair center is in Kansas City. Heat is not the issue, has lots of breathing room.

EUSORO

Do not mess with the amp and call Parasound sounds like it's fairly new (warranty). Tony or Richard (Parasound president) will be more than happy to assist your issue... They are very accessible. The 5250 should give you 380+ watts 4ohms.. Should have "0" issues running your LSi's.

PrazVT

If you send a mail to the support email address on the Parasound site, Richard himself will reply. I was lucky when my HCA2200ii went out (twice) as Parasound HQ is 20 minutes away from me. So I just took it in to Tony personally - but they'll help you - very responsive / accessible folks as EUSORO mentioned.

carwashguy

Have any of you guys experienced this problem of the channels dropping off? Two in two months is a bit much, I mean this is a $2800 amp.

PrazVT

On a new amp? No. I had an issue w/ one of my channels cutting out on an HCA-2200ii, but that was an 18 year old amp. They ended up replacing the output relays and adjusting the bias.

Otherwise, I haven't had any issues w/ the Parasound amps in my sig.

carwashguy

After some initial hesitation Tony said he would pay for shipping both ways, even threw in an original box (mine came without), that is a stand-up company. Still isn't two channels in two months a bit much?

EUSORO

carwashguy wrote: »

After some initial hesitation Tony said he would pay for shipping both ways, even threw in an original box (mine came without), that is a stand-up company. Still isn't two channels in two months a bit much?

I understand the frustration but you might as well get it checked out by the manufacturers. If after all you still have issues with the amp maybe u just bought a lemon. It happens to he best of us. At least you still have a warranty, it certainly could have been worse (no warranty)... Keep us posted

Hawkeye

Do you have it installed in a tight cabinet? Perhaps the heat is too much and your frying it? Two channels in a couple months seems extreme for a nice piece like this.

I've had a B&K 5 channel for over 15 years and never had it in for service(knock on wood) but it is well ventilated. Since you said it was such a pain to remove, my first thought was a tight cabinet.

Gordon

carwashguy

No heat is not the issue (don't think), it sits in an open framed stereo component rack. The house is 68 degrees year round, so it is pretty cool. The pain to move comes in when you try to lift this 85 lb behemoth out of the stereo rack, I am telling you it is HEAVY! Just got a pair of 1000w W4S mono-blocks, maybe that will take some of the heavy lifting off the Parasound.

Beta

I had problems with a Halo A21. I had it serviced by an authorized tech. Got it home and the problem continued. Turned out I had a "heat" issue (not saying you do). I purchased a Parasound Zbreeze fan and that solved my problem. Never had another issue since.

Not surprised to hear Parasound is going to make things right. Like Polk, Parasound has outstanding customer service.

DenDeXTeR51

Hi!
I also have 5508 and 5250(surround speakers) and 2xA23(bridged for front speakers).
If I want to hear anything, i have to set onkyo volume to -20 - -10dbm, but as I understand this value near the limit of Onkyo =(
If I set my surround/center channels to +6db in onkyo(Speaker Configuration) I have some kind of clipping =(
How do you set-up your Onkyo??

leftwinger57

I've been watching this thread and there seems to be a definitive problem w/ design,make ,quality.This as got to be at least the 3rd report of a Parasound that either overheats, shuts down protection style or just doesnot come back.As far as looks go and only looks it's a beautifully milled amp but then I viisted the EMOTIVA SITE W/ THE XP-2 AMP AND NOW THERE'S A SITE TO BEHOLD .i KNOWIT'S AN ADVERTISEMENT BUT IT'S SLICK AND IF BACKED UP AND i HAD TO DUMP MY ADCOM555 THIS IS THE SS AMP i WOULD GO FOR AT $800.@300W A SIDE.any devisiveness here?

Tankman

I have found some review's on B&K amp's and other's too with dropout's..It happen's.

WilliamM2

leftwinger57 wrote: »

I've been watching this thread and there seems to be a definitive problem w/ design,make ,quality.This as got to be at least the 3rd report of a Parasound that either overheats, shuts down protection style or just doesnot come back.

Really? From watching this thread, that had no posts for 9 months? Maybe you're looking too hard.

I had a Parasound amp fail once, it was 16 years old at the time, and required 70 cents in parts to fix. It's run another 7 years so far without further issues.

inspiredsports

From 4 years ago . . .

http://www.parasound.com/pdfs/5250Upgrade.pdf

This series is not as robust as the HCA, Halo, and JC lines.

PrazVT

I've had 2 fail - an HCA-2200ii and an HCA-1000A. But they were also older amps - so I wasn't surprised. But my 2250, 2125, and A21 never gave me any issues. And Parasound's support is above and beyond as mentioned. I took the 2200ii in twice (I live near HQ) and after the 2nd time, they offered to sell me a new A21 minus what I paid for the 2200ii. All I had asked them was what should I do? The fact that Richard himself answers many of the support mails is awesome as well.

My HCA1000a is still sitting in the living room - it just turns on but doesn't do anything - when I get a chance, I will get them to repair it.

WilliamM2

inspiredsports wrote: »

From 4 years ago . . .

http://www.parasound.com/pdfs/5250Upgrade.pdf

This series is not as robust as the HCA, Halo, and JC lines.

The amp in this post was new in 2011, and it seems the issue was corrected in 2008. Doesn't seem all that widespread either:

There are only six reports of such Model 5250 failures and in
each case the Model 5250 was installed, contrary to our instructions, in an unventilated
cabinet with no provision for trapped hot air to escape.

PrazVT

That'll kill any amp. My cousin has a NAD T955 in the media 'cubby' he built when remodeling his HT. He left the doors closed and the amp and one channel fried within a month. Lesson learned, but some of these issues are user errors I'm sure..