Strange Amp Recommendation or SF Bay Area tech repair recommendation

(First post here ... Hi everyone)

I inherited a very nice system with a big problem. Audio Research Ref 1 pre-amp and Ref 300 monoblocks with Magnapan 3.7 speakers. The problem is one of the monoblocks is blown. Talking with ARC looks like at least $3k, probably more in repairs. The freight alone is killer.

There is also the nostalgia factor too. This was my dad's pride and joy system. Wholesale replacement kinda defeats the purpose of inheritance.

Option 1 is to replace both monoblocks, make sense. But the cost.

Option 2 is to replace one monoblock at least temporarily with something not too different. I think in my case this might be reasonable. If I can find one I like, I can get the second one later.

I tried out an Emotiva XPA HC-1 monoblock. OK that's not gonna work. Nora Jones has a hint of singing into a can, plus there is notable harshness in the upper midrange. (I'm not an audiophile, but I know when I cringe.)

I have a Schiit Tyr on the way to try. What about the Benchmark AHB2? Tube amps that can drive the 3.7's seem out of my price range.

If I can stay below $3,000 for both sides it would be nice. Or $3,000 for a single monoblock that plays nice with the rest of the system (unlikely).

Am I being unreasonable?

 

Have you tried looking into local repair shops rather than shipping the big things back to factory?

 

I agree with @Armaegis. I can get an amp fixed locally for a couple to some hundreds of dollars depending on what's wrong with it. Check your local repair guys first.

 

Thanks guys. Local repair makes total sense. (I have to find someone to help me load it into the truck. I can't even pick it up.)

I did a search and couldn't find anyone. Well, I did find one in the SF bay area, but he didn't return call or email. I'll try him again.

 

I've seen people ask about repair shops in the Audiogon forum. Here's a search:
https://forum.audiogon.com/search/index?utf8=✓&query=tube+amp+repair+bay+area
Most of the responses are very old, but this one looks promising: https://www.tsound.com/services.html

The Audio Research Ref 300 monoblock is quite a beast!
https://arcdb.ws/model/REF300

 

Thanks guys for the help!

@shotgunshane Good idea, but forum doesn't allow mortals to change titles.

@Metro I found another name in your search, Scott Frankland, and he actually answered the phone! Maybe in 4 weeks he can look at it. So I got on his list. (Beast? Yah, 132lbs. I'll have to hire a day laborer to help me get it on the truck.)

Tsound I can't get any response. R&B Electronics hasn't responded yet.

.....

Back to the original question. Is it impossible to get single monoblock that can work as a stand-in?

Or is there a reasonable amp to go between the AR Reference pre-amp and the Magnapan 3.7 for <$3k?

 

I and a few others here have used Scott before and he’s a good guy to deal with. Haven’t had any issue with anything he’s fixed for me.

 

If you're getting one mono fixed, maybe it would make sense to have the other looked at too? I think the last thing you'd want is if caps have been replaced in one, and suddenly your left sounds different from right.

 

The problem with mismatched monoblocks is that they will make the left and right speakers sound different, especially if one amp is tube and the other is solid state. The Tyr you have incoming will drive the Magnepan very well and you can evaluate whether to get a second Tyr.

 

ARC and Maggies have been recommended together for decades. Your father had good taste. No wonder you found the Emotiva to be lackluster in comparison.

Hopefully the repairs work out, and keep us posted. If not, I’d use Tyrs if you want a budget solution. I haven’t heard them, but other Maggie owners have written favorably about them. If you don’t like those, let me know. I’ve used Maggies for a decade and my favorite solid state on them has been Coda (haven’t tried Tyrs). Tube preamp into beefy solid state amp is also another decades-spanning Maggie recommendation.

Whatever you decide, may the system bring you happy memories of your father and help you connect with him and music you love.

 

(admin - thanks for moving the thread to the right place.)

The Tyr should be here in a day or two. I'll run it thru the paces and let ya know. @zonto It's good to know tube pre-amp and solid state amp is a tried and true combination. Who knows I might like it better.

@joch Arrggghhh. You're right. I've experienced aged caps in speaker crossovers. I had one burn out and replaced it. It changed the sound enough that I had to swap out the other side. Good advice - I just hope it's not necessary.

 

May be a silly question, but are you able to volume/gain match the outputs from the different monoblocks (I assume the Tyr may not be a gain match with the ARC)?

 

Sertech in San Jose has done work on Audio Research. (408)267-3288 5725 Winfield Blvd San Jose, CA 95123

They are always 2-3 months backlogged, but I think time is less important in this situation...so consider them.

 

Good question. I setup REW and a calibrated mic. I adjusted the balance to account for that.

FWIW the Tyr showed up. I merged tracks on a few test tracks so I could A/B test using left and right. Then I placed the speakers together to minimize the room effects and balanced the amps. This allowed me to A/B test all three monoblocks.

The room effects override everything so the measurements of the speaker output of the ARC, Emotiva and Schiit are all pretty much the same.

The sounds are different! Emotive XPA HC-1 (high current model) is a no go. It is flat and I just don't like the vocals.

Tyr is perfectly acceptable. A bit crisper than the ARC. The ARC has the most detail tho. (Sorry I don't know the audiophile lingo.)

Bottom line, I am on Scott's waiting list for repairs. In the meantime the Schiit Tyr is fun to listen to and doesn't screw-up the ARC.

Truth be told: The left and right acoustical differences in the room are greater than the difference in these two mono-blocks.

 

I think you just conveyed it better than some lunatic reviewers who ramble on with nonsensical prose.