Polk RT3000p Amp Failure now three times in 5yrs
Comments
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Gatecrasher wrote: »If you can't respond intelligently with any thing other than a personal attack, you've already lost the argument.
Indeed.
I spoke from and gave an example from my personal hands on experience. Since you have others more qualified than yourself work on your gear it seems safe to say your opinions are parroted from others and therefore, your lack of any intelligent response.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
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If you can't respond intelligently with any thing other than a personal attack, you've already lost the argument.
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LOL!! I'm guessing you haven't read your own posts...
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Man, did this post go South pretty fast. Wow...Gatecrasher wrote: »You are for sure enthusiastic about the RT5000's.
Yeah I've always liked them. They sound fantastic and I haven't had any problems that weren't easily remedied with them. If I didn't have my SRT system I wouldn't have sold all my RT5000 stuff.
I think the key to keeping these speakers working great was already mentioned and that is to use good line protection. Like all electronics, power surges are lethal.
When you buy used ones that have failed, it is always best to looked them over totally and not just assume replacing capacitors is going to be the fix every time.
...but hear me out and let me introduce myself...if you will.
I understand everything you are saying about troubleshooting and fault analysis of a piece of electronics. However, I think you missed the point about the caps being bulged in all of the cases that I have seen. There were no odd voltages to be found. I've replaced about twelve caps on three different amps. One was unrepairable due a seriously cracked PCB and a short somewhere on the AC side that I gave up trying to find.
I won't sit here on the internet and claim to be the most consummate and savvy bench tech around. However, I've been taking things apart and fixing them since as far back as I can remember. You name it, and I've touched it. I've studied electronics technology and audio video production, and have worked as a service/repair tech for a small cable station , power and pneumatic tool repair, cell phone tech, medical/pharmaceutical dispensing machine service tech, slot machine tech, automotive test sensors technician, mail sorting equipment technician, Underwriter Laboratory Inspector, digital welder repair tech, solar inverter repair tech, and currently work as a sales application engineer/(fancy title for tech support) for the solar inverter/digital welding manufacture, Fronius USA, LLC.
So, if there is anything to know about me.....I fix things! (most of the time but not always. I was in the dog house but working on fixing things with the Mrs. Up and down so far, LOL!)
2.2 Office Setup | LG 29UB55 21:9 UltraWide | HP Probook 630 G8 | Dell Latitude | Cabasse Stream Amp 100 | Boston Acoustics VS 240 | AUDIORAX Desk Stands | Mirage Omni S8 sub1 | Mirage Omni S8 Sub2 -
The Elna power caps from this period are known to be bad.
INDEED as were the Elna Duorex II that most of Sony ES CD players used one of the most corrosive caps know to man.....from experience I know for a fact. they used fish oil as dielectric.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/10-X-MADE-IN-JAPAN-ELNA-DUOREX-II-1000uF-25V-FOR-AUDIO-ELECTROLYTIC-CAPACITOR-/261237463748
YOU could not pay me enough to use these they will flat rot out a board eat all the trace and then some........My Sony ES x33 had 42 of these and it only took one to learn me good
If you want Elna then get the Slimic they have silk as dielectric
http://www.ebay.com/itm/2PCS-1000uF-50V-ELNA-SILMIC-ROS-for-HiFi-Audio-Silk-Capacitors-Japan-Made-/350858830966 -
Gatecrasher wrote: »Gatecrasher wrote: »You forum bullies are free to proceed if you want. I apologize for responding to F1nut's personal attack with one from myself but couldn't resist. I never was one to back down from a fight. I'm usually better than that.
I wouldn't mind hearing an intelligent response though. But since it seems you and the rest of the goons on here are incapable of that I'll just refrain from responding to the BS unless it is constructive. You and your "buddies" on here should try to do the same. If you can't make an intelligent response, why bother?
An intelligent response to a moronic statement?
If you can't respond intelligently with any thing other than a personal attack, you've already lost the argument.
What argument?
Lumin X1 file player, Westminster Labs interconnect cable
Sony XA-5400ES SACD; Pass XP-22 pre; X600.5 amps
Magico S5 MKII Mcast Rose speakers; SPOD spikes
Shunyata Triton v3/Typhon QR on source, Denali 2000 (2) on amps
Shunyata Sigma XLR analog ICs, Sigma speaker cables
Shunyata Sigma HC (2), Sigma Analog, Sigma Digital, Z Anaconda (3) power cables
Mapleshade Samson V.3 four shelf solid maple rack, Micropoint brass footers
Three 20 amp circuits. -
Gatecrasher wrote: »If you can't respond intelligently with any thing other than a personal attack, you've already lost the argument.
Indeed.
I spoke from and gave an example from my personal hands on experience. Since you have others more qualified than yourself work on your gear it seems safe to say your opinions are parroted from others and therefore, your lack of any intelligent response.
You are the only one here I see "parroting" anything. Just like you assault on public education using dubious politically-motivated sources as so-called "proof". If that isn't parroting, I don't know what is.
The post I was replying to was from someone who is basically saying that the Polk RT5000 series speakers along with every powered subwoofer Polk ever made are all junk. Not true. I have had four sets of RT5000s and now have two sets of SRTs. How many have you had?
I have been very satisfied with all of my well-cared for speakers. I love them and have no regrets.
Nowhere in my post did I claim I was more qualified to work on gear. That just proves you have a reading comprehension issue. I clearly state that I have my gear "professionally repaired" even though I am an engineer with an electronics background and have been a Ham radio operator since age 13. Could I repair them? Of course I could if I wanted to but I'd rather have someone who sees these every day and can get it right the first time. I don't plan on having to do too many of these. If my SRT amps ever fail, I will have them professionally-repaired too, to ensure I won't have to disassemble them again 3 more times in 5 years.
I think it's pretty obvious with anyone who has any kind of technical background that if you supposedly "repair" something and then it fails 3 times in 5 years that something isn't right in the so-called repair. You are probably not addressing the root cause. Either that or they are being exposed to external things like power surges that is dramatically effecting their longevity.
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Geez, dude, give it a rest.Expert Moron Extraordinaire
You're just jealous 'cause the voices don't talk to you! -
Geez, dude, give it a rest.
You give it a rest. I don't care how many of you pile on. You'll never convince me that Polk Audio powered speakers are junk. I know better. -
Gatecrasher wrote: »I think it's pretty obvious with anyone who has any kind of technical background that if you supposedly "repair" something and then it fails 3 times in 5 years that something isn't right in the so-called repair. You are probably not addressing the root cause. Either that or they are being exposed to external things like power surges that is dramatically effecting their longevity.Gatecrasher wrote: »... I don't care how many of you pile on. You'll never convince me that Polk Audio powered speakers are junk. I know better.
WOW MAN! I for one think that it's awesome that you had/have a great experience with the speakers. I'm sure there are many others that had no problems with the amps. I UNDERSTAND your enthusiasm and bias regarding the product, there is nothing wrong with that especially here on POLK AUDIO! However, because you had a great experience does not change the facts.
1) Several have had caps in the amps and/or passives, tweeters, woofers, subs, etc go bad.
2) The large caps are on the primary side coming right off the rectifier.(OF COURSE THE LIFE OF THE CAP IS INFLUENCED BY THE LINE VOLTAGE AND THE AMOUNT OF AC RIPPLE!!!
3) 85°C rated caps were used (maybe 105°C might have been a better choice for longer life?)
4) The boards were mass produced Asian made using typical parts (Not lower quality but not higher either)
6) Low quality caps are a major problem in many industries.
Given the above...some will have more problems /failures than others for various reasons.... there really is nothing to dispute. It's just off base to say those that have problems are doing something wrong in operation or repair.
Bottom line, the RT3000P systems ROCKS! The amps do what they are supposed to do!
2.2 Office Setup | LG 29UB55 21:9 UltraWide | HP Probook 630 G8 | Dell Latitude | Cabasse Stream Amp 100 | Boston Acoustics VS 240 | AUDIORAX Desk Stands | Mirage Omni S8 sub1 | Mirage Omni S8 Sub2 -
Gatecrasher wrote: »You are the only one here I see "parroting" anything. Just like you assault on public education using dubious politically-motivated sources as so-called "proof". If that isn't parroting, I don't know what is.
The post I was replying to was from someone who is basically saying that the Polk RT5000 series speakers along with every powered subwoofer Polk ever made are all junk. Not true. I have had four sets of RT5000s and now have two sets of SRTs. How many have you had?
I have been very satisfied with all of my well-cared for speakers. I love them and have no regrets.
Nowhere in my post did I claim I was more qualified to work on gear. That just proves you have a reading comprehension issue. I clearly state that I have my gear "professionally repaired" even though I am an engineer with an electronics background and have been a Ham radio operator since age 13. Could I repair them? Of course I could if I wanted to but I'd rather have someone who sees these every day and can get it right the first time. I don't plan on having to do too many of these. If my SRT amps ever fail, I will have them professionally-repaired too, to ensure I won't have to disassemble them again 3 more times in 5 years.
I think it's pretty obvious with anyone who has any kind of technical background that if you supposedly "repair" something and then it fails 3 times in 5 years that something isn't right in the so-called repair. You are probably not addressing the root cause. Either that or they are being exposed to external things like power surges that is dramatically effecting their longevity.
I'm sorry you're having such a hard time getting things straight. I've tried to help you, but I now realize it's a waste of my time. Good luck sport.Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
Seeing as how you have yet to post an intelligent response to anything I have no choice but to decline any recommendation of yours.
However, I do have a question for you. Would you like to buy a vowel?Political Correctness'.........defined
"A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."
President of Club Polk -
Whoops. It wasn't Elvis. It was Johnny Cash impersonating Elvis.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UlxEWTc0b7I afterburnt wrote: »They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.
Village Idiot of Club Polk -
In case that one went by you it meant xcapri pretending to be Elvis.afterburnt wrote: »They didn't speak a word of English, they were from South Carolina.
Village Idiot of Club Polk -
Given the above...some will have more problems /failures than others for various reasons.... there really is nothing to dispute. It's just off base to say those that have problems are doing something wrong in operation or repair.
Bottom line, the RT3000P systems ROCKS! The amps do what they are supposed to do!
Well at least we agree with the second part of your statement!
Seriously though, send your amps to Dave if you want them to last longer than they have been. It is not normal for them to fail that often.
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I've actually talked to Dave a couple of times over the years and he confirmed that he replaced a lot of caps as well as corrects some of the older grounding issues, and design fixes etc. The fact that he has an eBay Polk amp repair business tells me that these amps are plain and simply getting old and do go bad. Also, even the best caps can go bad.
I was going to send one of my amps to him as one of the issues I had was odd. The amp pretty much would have needed to be under load to really test it and get it to fault. I ended up figuring things out and got them working. I ended up selling my RT5000 set.
2.2 Office Setup | LG 29UB55 21:9 UltraWide | HP Probook 630 G8 | Dell Latitude | Cabasse Stream Amp 100 | Boston Acoustics VS 240 | AUDIORAX Desk Stands | Mirage Omni S8 sub1 | Mirage Omni S8 Sub2 -
He lives right down the road from me and I've talked to him in person. I was just at his house last week. He says he rarely has to replace the caps unless they are obviously bad. His flat-rate doesn't include replacing the caps because it's not normally what is wrong with them. But sometimes they need replaced.
There are other mechanical issues unique to each design that he fixes and shores up so they don't re-occur as well as other electrical problems that are more common than capacitor failure. Once he goes through them though they are better than new and don't go on to fail three times in 5 years afterwards. -
I actually have some parts I might see if he is interested in from the third amp.2.2 Office Setup | LG 29UB55 21:9 UltraWide | HP Probook 630 G8 | Dell Latitude | Cabasse Stream Amp 100 | Boston Acoustics VS 240 | AUDIORAX Desk Stands | Mirage Omni S8 sub1 | Mirage Omni S8 Sub2
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I actually have some parts I might see if he is interested in from the third amp.
He might be. I had an NOS volume control that he bought from me for $10.
He says sometimes he'll get 3-4 subwoofer amps a day sent to him. They are not all Polks though. In addition to servicing all of the Polk subwoofer models, he also repairs other brands too. -
Does he work on Cerwin-Vega CVT sub amps? If so PM that info please....
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Why PM it? Others might be interested too.
Here's his eBay link for one. He does an exchange:
ebay.com/itm/Cerwin-Vega-CVA-121-Amp-Amplifier-Plate-Module-Repair-Service-/251637181936
I think he's on vacation until the 8th though.
