Is amp worth fixing?

[Ban5400]

I have a Marantz SR5009 that I bought in 2014. It's been a good amp, but within the first year I had it, something inside went, resulting in it bursting into smoke that filled by home theatre room.

I had it fixed under warranty.

Then two weeks ago, it stopped working a second time. I brought it in to a repair shop. There, they said that Marantz isn't as good as it used to be, and I might consider buying something else.

They said that they have a lot of difficulty getting parts, and have had those problems for about 5 years. They mentioned that parts might take months to arrive in the current environment. I know I bought something else earlier in the year that had to be shipped from China. It cleared customs there on July 7 and it still hasn't appeared in the tracking system for my own country's mail service. So it's stuck....somewhere.

Now, the repair shop just got back to me tonight, indicating that the "Output Stage" has blown and will need to be entirely replaced. They've given me a quote of $320 to repair the amp. That's less than buying a new one. But I'm not entirely sure how long it'll take to get parts. And admittedly, this amp is one that lacks Atmos, which is something I hoped to migrate to.

I just don't know if this is an excessive amount to spend to fix an amp or not. And I'm concerned whether the fact that this amp has blown twice is a problem sign. I had a Yamaha amp for 11 years and never had a problem. Then I get a Marantz and it blows twice in 7 years.

 

[TLS Guy]

I have a Marantz SR5009 that I bought in 2014. It's been a good amp, but within the first year I had it, something inside went, resulting in it bursting into smoke that filled by home theatre room.

I had it fixed under warranty.

Then two weeks ago, it stopped working a second time. I brought it in to a repair shop. There, they said that Marantz isn't as good as it used to be, and I might consider buying something else.

They said that they have a lot of difficulty getting parts, and have had those problems for about 5 years. They mentioned that parts might take months to arrive in the current environment. I know I bought something else earlier in the year that had to be shipped from China. It cleared customs there on July 7 and it still hasn't appeared in the tracking system for my own country's mail service. So it's stuck....somewhere.

Now, the repair shop just got back to me tonight, indicating that the "Output Stage" has blown and will need to be entirely replaced. They've given me a quote of $320 to repair the amp. That's less than buying a new one. But I'm not entirely sure how long it'll take to get parts. And admittedly, this amp is one that lacks Atmos, which is something I hoped to migrate to.

I just don't know if this is an excessive amount to spend to fix an amp or not. And I'm concerned whether the fact that this amp has blown twice is a problem sign. I had a Yamaha amp for 11 years and never had a problem. Then I get a Marantz and it blows twice in 7 years.

That is exactly why I refuse to use receivers! That receiver is not worth fixing. Seven years use I think is the design life of receivers, which is a disgrace. Some may last more by dumb luck. It is getting worse now that more power amps are crowded in because of Atmos.

I have had much better results using pre/pros. As most people here know, I'm vehemently opposed to the concept of receivers, more so now than ever. Your experience is why.

Your repair guy is correct though, the spares situation of Denon/Marantz is absolutely atrocious, and actually an infringement of law. So you just have to hope they don't fail. I do use Marantz pre/pros and just hope they keep working. Without a bunch of power amps being thrown in where they have no business being, I think my odds are better.

By the way sourcing new gear is now an increasing nightmare, with inventories at all time lows to exhausted.

 

[lovinthehd]

Yes, sometimes there are issues with avrs. Sometimes with pre-pros, too. Sometimes they need a board/component that is not available at all is true enough, and the industry does not have a particular commitment to have your electronics last as long as some would like (outside of general obsolescence of the audio/video tech). Not sure pre-pros are any better reliability wise, have not seen any real specs to back up TLS' opinion (and he uses Marantz pre-pros fwiw) and they'll cost significantly more to begin with. The idea of less heat in the box of an avr is a good one; you can always add external cooling to help extend their life. If you want the latest audio/video codecs there's some risk involved with consumer electronics, that's for sure. That said I've got several avrs the age of yours and no issues (and do use external cooling on a couple of them). YMMV. If your amp section is repairable for $320 question comes to whether you think that will extend its life significantly or not, and whether you'd rather just not deal with it and upgrade to current tech at the same time...

 

[-Jim-]

Don't take opinions from repair depots and other folks as gospel unless there is real data to back it up. While I agree AVRs break (as do all man made devices), Marantz / Denon are generally considered as reliable as any out there. Separates fail as well but the point is technology and features keeps moving on, and hopefully by the time something fails, the new device has something (like Atmos) that tips you to buy new gear.

I'd suggest you look for a new AVR with the features you desire now, and possibly in the future. Especially when the spare parts delivery is an unknown, and could be months away. Going to separates will typically cost you many times what an AVR will.

I hope this is helpful.

 

[Ban5400]

Thank you for the insight. I'm going to have to think on this.

$320 is almost half what I spent on it 7 years ago. But it seems like the prices on amps are way up from what they were 7 years ago. This particular amp is 7.1. I've currently got my center channel, left and right, surrounds, and then rears. The surrounds are mounted in the walls and the rears are in the ceiling.

From what I understand, I'm going to need something like a 7.1.2 or 7.1.4 system. But from what I've read, they do the nomenclature different now than they did years ago. So I think now I'd need a 9.1? Or an 11.1? Depending on how many height speakers I added? When I bought this particular amp, it was $799 on sale. But it seems like now I'm going to have to spend $1700 for something suitable. That's a big jump.

 

[Ban5400]

BTW, thanks to everyone who has cast an opinion. Seems like a pretty friendly bunch in these parts.

 

[Pogre]

Thank you for the insight. I'm going to have to think on this.

$320 is almost half what I spent on it 7 years ago. But it seems like the prices on amps are way up from what they were 7 years ago. This particular amp is 7.1. I've currently got my center channel, left and right, surrounds, and then rears. The surrounds are mounted in the walls and the rears are in the ceiling.

From what I understand, I'm going to need something like a 7.1.2 or 7.1.4 system. But from what I've read, they do the nomenclature different now than they did years ago. So I think now I'd need a 9.1? Or an 11.1? Depending on how many height speakers I added? When I bought this particular amp, it was $799 on sale. But it seems like now I'm going to have to spend $1700 for something suitable. That's a big jump.

Right now at AC4L there's a SR5015, the current version of the model you have right now for $999 with a 3 year warranty.

Accessories4less: High End Audio at Low End Prices!

www.accessories4less.com

I'd be tempted to go for the SR6014 tho, the previous year's model for the same price.

Accessories4less: High End Audio at Low End Prices!

www.accessories4less.com

That's a step up from the 5 series, with a couple more channels of processing and still plenty current with the better version of Audyssey with MultEQ XT32. Minus the 3 year warranty tho... I will say I've bought a couple of receivers from AC4L and had good experiences.

 

[Trebdp83]

$320 is too high for the repair of an older unit with no guarantee it will last for long. A new, though expensive, new unit comes with a return window, warranty and new feature set. It’s a pricey upgrade but the repair of the old one is a full on gamble. Good luck with whatever you choose to do and welcome to the forums!

 

[-Jim-]

To keep costs down (if you live in the USA) you may want to consider Accessories4Less.

They sell Denon (and others) Factory refurbished gear and some like a AVR-X4500H 9.2 -Ch comes with a 3 year warranty. It's $1299 right now but if you watch their site a suitable unit may go on sale toward Black Friday. If you can wait that long.

 

[Pogre]

To keep costs down (if you live in the USA) you may want to consider Accessories4Less.

They sell Denon (and others) Factory refurbished gear and some like a AVR-X4500H 9.2 -Ch comes with a 3 year warranty. It's $1299 right now but if you watch their site a suitable unit may go on sale toward Black Friday. If you can wait that long.

Why, that's fantastic advice!

 

[-Jim-]

Why, that's fantastic advice!

I typed my reply above, and went to the kitchen to grab a coffee. I hit send when I got back there were already 3 replies!! Wow.

 

[Pogre]

I typed my reply above, and went to the kitchen to grab a coffee. I hit send when I got back there were already 3 replies!! Wow.

Hey, great minds right? I saw that 4500 also and agree that's a fantastic deal. The 3 year warranty is a really nice perk too. If op can swing it I'd say go with the 4500. Otherwise the 6014 is a slightly better deal, but no additional 3 year warranty.

 

[PENG]

Thank you for the insight. I'm going to have to think on this.

$320 is almost half what I spent on it 7 years ago. But it seems like the prices on amps are way up from what they were 7 years ago. This particular amp is 7.1. I've currently got my center channel, left and right, surrounds, and then rears. The surrounds are mounted in the walls and the rears are in the ceiling.

From what I understand, I'm going to need something like a 7.1.2 or 7.1.4 system. But from what I've read, they do the nomenclature different now than they did years ago. So I think now I'd need a 9.1? Or an 11.1? Depending on how many height speakers I added? When I bought this particular amp, it was $799 on sale. But it seems like now I'm going to have to spend $1700 for something suitable. That's a big jump.

Are the pre outs working? If not (likely not because of the protection cct.), can you ask how much for the repair shop to isolate the power amp and make the pre put to work so you can but a cheap power amp?

If it is an authorized Marantz shop they may be able to do that and for a lot less than $320.

If not, see if you can get a x3500h from AC4L.

 

[Pogre]

Are the pre outs working? If not (likely not because of the protection cct.), can you ask how much for the repair shop to isolate the power amp and make the pre put to work so you can but a cheap power amp?

If it is an authorized Marantz shop they may be able to do that and for a lot less than $320.

If not, see if you can get a x3500h from AC4L.

I didn't see a 3500 at AC4L, but agree that'd be a great choice and probably a good price too. The next closest thing they have now is a 4500 for $1299 with a 3 yr warranty or a 6014 for $999 without the 3 yr.

 

[Ban5400]

I'm in Canada....so at least on the same continent. I wonder if that extended warranty is within the US only?

 

[davidscott]

That is exactly why I refuse to use receivers! That receiver is not worth fixing. Seven years use I think is the design life of receivers, which is a disgrace. Some may last more by dumb luck. It is getting worse now that more power amps are crowded in because of Atmos.

I have had much better results using pre/pros. As most people here know, I'm vehemently opposed to the concept of receivers, more so now than ever. Your experience is why.

Your repair guy is correct though, the spares situation of Denon/Marantz is absolutely atrocious, and actually an infringement of law. So you just have to hope they don't fail. I do use Marantz pre/pros and just hope they keep working. Without a bunch of power amps being thrown in where they have no business being, I think my odds are better.

By the way sourcing new gear is now an increasing nightmare, with inventories at all time lows to exhausted.

Maybe I have just been lucky but I currently use a 9 year old Harman Kardon 3490 receiver that has had zero issues during that time. It replaced a now 20 year old Technics receiver (forget the model) that I sold cheap to a friend that still uses it. These are 2 channel not multi channel so that might play into the reliability. Before that I mainly used integrated amps or separates. I can see your point though because with separates you just have to replace the defective unit not the entire receiver.

 

[PENG]

I didn't see a 3500 at AC4L, but agree that'd be a great choice and probably a good price too. The next closest thing they have now is a 4500 for $1299 with a 3 yr warranty or a 6014 for $999 without the 3 yr.

Wow, I just did a search, not only AC4L or Crutchfield, or Gibby in Canada, anything half decent seems to be out of stock, new or refurbished. I did manage to find one X3700H from Amazon.
Amazon.com: Denon AVR-X3700H 8K Ultra HD 9.2 Channel (105Watt X 9) AV Receiver 2020 Model - 3D Audio & Video with IMAX Enhanced, Built for Gaming, Music Streaming, Alexa + HEOS : Electronics

The SR6014 for $999 with 3 year warranty looks pretty good, assuming the supply chain issues won't get sorted any time soon.

 

[PENG]

I'm in Canada....so at least on the same continent. I wonder if that extended warranty is within the US only?

If in Canada, even the X3700H is going for $1,999. If I remember right it was about $999 to $1,199 a year ago.
Did you ask the repair shop if they can just isolate the blown channel amp and make the pre outs working for all 7 channels? There are no shortage of multi channel power amps, just AVRs and AVPs are the problem, i.e. you have to pay premium price for one.

 

[TLS Guy]

Don't take opinions from repair depots and other folks as gospel unless there is real data to back it up. While I agree AVRs break (as do all man made devices), Marantz / Denon are generally considered as reliable as any out there. Separates fail as well but the point is technology and features keeps moving on, and hopefully by the time something fails, the new device has something (like Atmos) that tips you to buy new gear.

I'd suggest you look for a new AVR with the features you desire now, and possibly in the future. Especially when the spare parts delivery is an unknown, and could be months away. Going to separates will typically cost you many times what an AVR will.

I hope this is helpful.

Not in the long run! My power amps are now worth on eBay almost three times what I paid for them!

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

Merc 300SL Gullwing (Coupe) was priced at $6820 in the US back in 1954. Taking inflation into account, it would be closer to $70k in today's money. Let's just say that it is proven itself as a wise investment with current prices go as much as $1.4m for concourse condition cars.

I, however, doubt that any piece of electronics will ever come close to this unicorn level of value appreciation.