The mono-blocks live!!!

BuckeyeTim

They live, they live! At least that's what I am told by the repair shop.
After a 4 week wait, they called today to tell me they had been resurrected and are ready for pickup.

I was able to talk to the tech and asked for a quick rundown of the problem. The scariest part was when he told me an amputation (gulp) had to be performed. So, these amps had been in for a service several years ago for the notorious capacitor leakage issue. The board disassembly and ultrasonic cleaning, etc...

Well, the service guys and Adcom seem to think the current issue was related to the leakage issue years ago.

What they found was that part of the input board had carbonized over the years and some components were arcing between them due to the carbonization. The service guys called Adcom for advice. Supposedly, what Adcom told them...if I heard right, is that cleaning the board is no longer the standard practice to fix the leaking cap issue...because of the eventual carbonization.

What they had to do was actually amputate part of the pc board and "hard wire" the individual components. (sounds expensive!).

I was only having issues with one amp but took both to them so that other could get the physical and checkup. They found that although the one amp was still working, the carbonization had started and was only a matter of time. They performed an amputation on both amps.

Still sounds scary, but they tell me that they are fine and dandy and I should have no more issues related to the leaking caps. Maybe it is time to start a casual search for future replacements.

I will pick them up on Thursday (work schedule). The total bill comes to $240 and change. Not nearly as bad as I expected

PolkClyde

I have two carver mono blocks,who does repairs on those now-a-days? thanks

hearingimpared

Now that you have the 565s fixed up, you should consider the Musical Concepts upgrades to them. I owned a pair of 565 mono blocks that had these mods and it brought the 565s to a whole other level. The bass was punchier and the highs were very sweet and detailed.

http://www.musicaldesign.com/MC_AdcomAmp_mods.html

hearingimpared

PolkClyde wrote: »

I have two carver mono blocks,who does repairs on those now-a-days? thanks

http://www.martinloganowners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8037

hearingimpared

PolkClyde wrote: »

I have two carver mono blocks,who does repairs on those now-a-days? thanks

http://www.yellowbot.com/ritas-vintage-audio-repair-snohomish-wa.html



http://www.martinloganowners.com/forum/showthread.php?t=8037

amulford

go with Rita's Vintage Audio repair. They are the people who built them, the prices are very good, and you might just get them signed by Bob Carver...

Amherst

Tim, did the shop give you some idea of the expected longevity of the units after repair?

cstmar01

good to see that they could save them! I was wondering too if they said how much longer they could live for now.

BuckeyeTim

hearingimpared wrote: »

Now that you have the 565s fixed up, you should consider the Musical Concepts upgrades to them. I owned a pair of 565 mono blocks that had these mods and it brought the 565s to a whole other level. The bass was punchier and the highs were very sweet and detailed.

http://www.musicaldesign.com/MC_AdcomAmp_mods.html

I actually was looking at Musical Concepts when they first started acting up. Something to think about...I just wish they were closer so I could deliver rather than risk shipping damage. I recieve more damaged goods from shipping than you can imagine. Out of the last 6 packages of vinyl from George G, only 2 arrived without damage. Not only do they drop everything, they drop on the corners of package. I can just picture them rolling 2 50lb amps across the floor because they can't lift them.

Amherst..... Tim, did the shop give you some idea of the expected longevity of the units after repair?

No, but I didn't ask. They called while I was at work, so I only asked a few quick questions. I will get more details when I pick them up Thursday.

Amherst

BuckeyeTim wrote: »

I actually was looking at Musical Concepts when they first started acting up. Something to think about...I just wish they were closer so I could deliver rather than risk shipping damage. I recieve more damaged goods from shipping than you can imagine. Out of the last 6 packages of vinyl from George G, only 2 arrived without damage. Not only do they drop everything, they drop on the corners of package. I can just picture them rolling 2 50lb amps across the floor because they can't lift them.

For anyone receiving recurrent damage on goods to their home, there are some options. I recently had an amp shipped, gross weight was 95lbs. I knew my delivery guy would do his best to toss it on my porch which has a concrete floor. Went to ups and discussed my concerns and they let me address it using the ups distribution's address with my name and phone number under their address.
After tracking showed it came in, just went and picked it up there, have to show ID of coarse.
Anyhow, I think alot of the damage occurs during the final leg of delivery and this is one way to eliminate that part of the journey.

fbm211

Glad to hear your amps are fixed.Now you can get the GDA-600 hooked up.
You could do one mod to those amps yourself by ordering 4- 20uf and 4- 1uf dayton caps from PE and bypass the PS caps.Get some spade terminals to crimp onto the caps to make hook up a breeze.

BuckeyeTim

fbm211 wrote: »

Glad to hear your amps are fixed.Now you can get the GDA-600 hooked up.
You could do one mod to those amps yourself by ordering 4- 20uf and 4- 1uf dayton caps from PE and bypass the PS caps.Get some spade terminals to crimp onto the caps to make hook up a breeze.

Yeah, it has been driving me up the wall wanting to hook up this dac. I considered doing some mods to it while I was waiting for the amps to return, but I really want to try and see if I can hear a difference between each upgrade (Tinnitus and not so great hearing).

I am very interested in the amp upgrade you refer to and am not afraid of a soldering iron at all. I need to look for a schematic first though so that I can figure out what I am doing since at the moment I have no idea what caps you are talking about. You might be getting a pm from me in the semi-near future regarding this.

hearingimpared

BuckeyeTim wrote: »

I actually was looking at Musical Concepts when they first started acting up. Something to think about...I just wish they were closer so I could deliver rather than risk shipping damage. I recieve more damaged goods from shipping than you can imagine. Out of the last 6 packages of vinyl from George G, only 2 arrived without damage. Not only do they drop everything, they drop on the corners of package. I can just picture them rolling 2 50lb amps across the floor because they can't lift them.

If you have the amps in their original boxes and my even double box them you should have no problems with shipping them. I received my 565s from California delivered to Philly with no problems. When I sold them I shipped them from Newark DE to the Dominican Republic with not problems. Also that is why you insure them against gorilla handlers.

Those upgrades are so worth the cost and the risk.

EDUBAG

hearingimpared wrote: »

if you have the amps in their original boxes and my even double box them you should have no problems with shipping them. I received my 565s from california delivered to philly with no problems. When i sold them i shipped them from newark de to the dominican republic with not problems. Also that is why you insure them against gorilla handlers.

Those upgrades are so worth the cost and the risk.

i live in the dominican republic and was wondering who here uses adcom so i can go ahead and have a listen. I have a pair of rtia7 and people say that the 555 is the way to get the better of them.

Those 565 looks pretty awsome as well.

hearingimpared

EDUBAG wrote: »

i live in the dominican republic and was wondering who here uses adcom so i can go ahead and have a listen. I have a pair of rtia7 and people say that the 555 is the way to get the better of them.

Those 565 looks pretty awsome as well.

PM sent.:)

fbm211

BuckeyeTim wrote: »

Yeah, it has been driving me up the wall wanting to hook up this dac. I considered doing some mods to it while I was waiting for the amps to return, but I really want to try and see if I can hear a difference between each upgrade (Tinnitus and not so great hearing).

I am very interested in the amp upgrade you refer to and am not afraid of a soldering iron at all. I need to look for a schematic first though so that I can figure out what I am doing since at the moment I have no idea what caps you are talking about. You might be getting a pm from me in the semi-near future regarding this.

Ill crack one open and get a pic for you this weekend Tim.It is a very easy mod to do.

BuckeyeTim

fbm211 wrote: »

Ill crack one open and get a pic for you this weekend Tim.It is a very easy mod to do.

That would be great! Thanks!
Maybe the more mods I can do myself, the less it will cost if I send them in for upgrades.

Yes Hearingimpared...I do still have the original boxes and styrofoam. I am really interested in their upgrades and may consider shipping.

Although,...since I am going to be in Columbus, I am going to stop by one of the local Hifi stores. I might be coming home with a new turntable. They are also a Magnepan dealer and I want to check out the new 1.7's. I will be praying for the ability to resist temptation!

hearingimpared

BuckeyeTim wrote: »

That would be great! Thanks!
Maybe the more mods I can do myself, the less it will cost if I send them in for upgrades.

Yes Hearingimpared...I do still have the original boxes and styrofoam. I am really interested in their upgrades and may consider shipping.

Although,...since I am going to be in Columbus, I am going to stop by one of the local Hifi stores. I might be coming home with a new turntable. They are also a Magnepan dealer and I want to check out the new 1.7's. I will be praying for the ability to resist temptation!

Tim, I don't remember where, but I purchased two heavy outer boxes to double box the Adcoms and they really did the job of protecting the amps from the gorillas.

On second thought I believe I bought the boxes from "Uline."

http://www.uline.com/Cls_04/Boxes-Corrugated?pricode=WE434&gclid=CL-b5cfq9qACFYd-5Qod0SE6yg

Good luck with the mods you are going to do yourself and I hope you try the Musical Concepts upgrades. Have fun.

Joe

fbm211

Here you go Tim.Using spade terminals is a great option as it will allow you to use the screws on the cans(caps) to connect/disconnect the bypass caps.You may need to open up the spades a little bit to get them to fit.
Have fun.You dont need expensive caps for this application.
Hmmm.I think its about time to replace those damn metal bars with solid silver wire.:D

BuckeyeTim

Thanks Fred! I don't care what they say about you, you are alright!:cool:

I just got everything hooked up about an hour ago. I didn't get home until about 6pm. I made a day of it and went to a high end shop while I was there. OMG....talk about instantaneous ****!! This place is awesome. The last time I was there was probably 15 yrs ago. I did end up walking out with a new Music Hall MMF 5.1 turntable. It is still sitting in the laundry room in the box...you think I can convince the wife that I got it at a garage sale for $75??

So, anyways,...I got everything back in place including the dac. So far the sound is fantastic! I can't crank it up much yet because the wife is in bed...poor gal has been working 9hr days and 7 days per week for the last 2 months.

Tomorrow.

hearingimpared

BuckeyeTim wrote: »

Thanks Fred! I don't care what they say about you, you are alright!:cool:

I just got everything hooked up about an hour ago. I didn't get home until about 6pm. I made a day of it and went to a high end shop while I was there. OMG....talk about instantaneous ****!! This place is awesome. The last time I was there was probably 15 yrs ago. I did end up walking out with a new Music Hall MMF 5.1 turntable. It is still sitting in the laundry room in the box...you think I can convince the wife that I got it at a garage sale for $75??

So, anyways,...I got everything back in place including the dac. So far the sound is fantastic! I can't crank it up much yet because the wife is in bed...poor gal has been working 9hr days and 7 days per week for the last 2 months.

Tomorrow.

A man after my own heart!!! Now for all the upgrades suggestions . . . heheheh!!!

fbm211

Yeah.So what cart did you get with that TT?

reeltrouble1

BuckeyeTim wrote: »

its in the laundry room in the box...you think I can convince the wife that I got it at a garage sale for $75??

hehehehehe..........it is always better to seek forgiveness over permission......

RT1

heiney9

BuckeyeTim wrote: »

So, anyways,...I got everything back in place including the dac. So far the sound is fantastic! I can't crank it up much yet because the wife is in bed...poor gal has been working 9hr days and 7 days per week for the last 2 months.

Tomorrow.

Since you are in a modifying mood, I highly recommend you do this to the Adcom dac.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97185&page=4

I put together an add'l tutorial and pics at post #108.

H9

BuckeyeTim

fbm211 wrote: »

Yeah.So what cart did you get with that TT?

It has a Goldring 2200.

heiney9 wrote: »

Since you are in a modifying mood, I highly recommend you do this to the Adcom dac.

http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=97185&page=4

I put together an add'l tutorial and pics at post #108.

H9

I have been watching that thread faithfully and want to thank you very much for it!