Repair HCA-1500 or buy another amp?
muncybob
Posts: 3,042
I bought this Parasound(it's not the A version) used about 3 years ago. It has performed well up until the other day. Out of nowhere the right channel is almost non existent. At first I suspected the preamp as it had problems in the past. After many cable swaps, etc I have narrowed the culprit down to be the power amp. So I'm wondering do I pay to ship it back to Parasound for a refresh, take it locally for most likely a little less $$ but also a little less amp(if you know what I mean)....or sell it to someone for repair and buy another used amp. What would you do and why?
Yep, my name really is Bob.
Parasound HCA1500A(indoor sound) and HCA1000(outdoor sound), Dynaco PAS4, Denon DP1200 w/Shure V15 Type V and Jico SAS stylus, Marantz UD7007, Polk L600, Rythmik L12 sub.
Parasound HCA1500A(indoor sound) and HCA1000(outdoor sound), Dynaco PAS4, Denon DP1200 w/Shure V15 Type V and Jico SAS stylus, Marantz UD7007, Polk L600, Rythmik L12 sub.
Comments
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Absolutely send it to Parasound! They will even ship it back in new factory packaging, atleast they did for me! Well worth the extra freight.
Great amp!- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit. -
I didn't know they would refurb an old amp. They have been great about helping me with schematics and info for my amps.
The problem with your amp may be a bad solder joint. I got one of my Parasound amps for a steal that sounds like it acted the same as yours, though it could be something else, because of a bad solder joint on one of the large bias resistors.Stan
Main 2ch:
Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.
HT:
Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60
Other stuff:
Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601 -
I'd at least get an estimate on the repair. That's a nice amp to just toss. Probably one of the best bang for your buck amps out there.HT SYSTEM-
Sony 850c 4k
Pioneer elite vhx 21
Sony 4k BRP
SVS SB-2000
Polk Sig. 20's
Polk FX500 surrounds
Cables-
Acoustic zen Satori speaker cables
Acoustic zen Matrix 2 IC's
Wireworld eclipse 7 ic's
Audio metallurgy ga-o digital cable
Kitchen
Sonos zp90
Grant Fidelity tube dac
B&k 1420
lsi 9's -
A local shop is familiar with the amp. Other than finding/fixing the problem, what else should I ask them to do while they have it? I'm sure they will have suggestions but I don't want to say OK to things that maybe really aren't needed.
In the meantime, I have put the HCA1000 in its place with the 2 channel rig. This is my 1st experience with noticing a definitive difference in sound between amps.Yep, my name really is Bob.
Parasound HCA1500A(indoor sound) and HCA1000(outdoor sound), Dynaco PAS4, Denon DP1200 w/Shure V15 Type V and Jico SAS stylus, Marantz UD7007, Polk L600, Rythmik L12 sub. -
At its age I would seriously considering a recap main filter caps and double check bias while on the bench- Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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+1 on the re-cap. I have an HCA-800ii from the same era of Parasound that I refurb'd. Thirty percent of the electrolytic caps were out of spec or bad. I also refurbished the Parasound pre-amp (C/PT-600) at the time and found the same failure rate. Upgrading to Nichicon FG and Muse in the combo made a huge difference in the noise floor and SQ.
I also have an HCA-1000A that I refurb'd. By contrast, they used better quality caps and just a couple were out of spec but I upgraded to better quality anyway. The biggest upgrade was the PS caps that, according to Mr. Curl, was a compromise at the time due to space constraints of the thinner cabinet and what was available at the time. I was able to go higher capacitance and higher voltage rating (Nippon Chermi-Con). The originals (Elna) were spec'd right at the rail voltage.Stan
Main 2ch:
Polk LSi15 (DB840 upgrade), Parasound: P/LD-1100, HCA-1000A; Denon: DVD-2910, DRM-800A; Benchmark DAC1, Monster HTS3600-MKII, Grado SR-225i; Technics SL-J2, Parasound PPH-100.
HT:
Marantz SR7010, Polk: RTA11TL (RDO198-1, XO and Damping Upgrades), S4, CS250, PSW110 , Marantz UD5005, Pioneer PL-530, Panasonic TC-P42S60
Other stuff:
Denon: DRA-835R, AVR-888, DCD-660, DRM-700A, DRR-780; Polk: S8, Monitor 5A, 5B, TSi100, RM7, PSW10 (DXi104 upgrade); Pioneer: CT-6R; Onkyo CP-1046F; Ortofon OM5E, Marantz: PM5004, CD5004, CDR-615; Parasound C/PT-600, HCA-800ii, Sony CDP-650ESD, Technics SA 5070, B&W DM601
