The Empire goes on strike

[ahblaza]

Maybe I'm in the minority here, but I just finished watching Underworld Evolutions at -10 (wife took kids to mall). My Empire was no warmer after than when I started. And it wasnt warm at all when I started.

The Empire amps do not seem to have the heat issues as the Legends, J Garcia can attest to that, no heat but amp failure. I am very happy with the performance of the Legend and had an order in for a second one until the heat issue.......

 

[ahblaza]

Class D amps generally do not have external heat sinks, nor should they need them. I talked to Chad and he said the amps are not up to the quality level that he would like. They are not Epik's design, they are manufactured by another company, so they don't have ultimate control over them. A change in amp vendor will likely be costly now that they are fully integrated, so I am sure it will take time for that to happen, because it sounds like they need a new vendor.

Thank you John for the honest reply, that's all I asked of Chad and he could not give that to me. I turned my amp on today with no signal and the plate was more than warm in 15 minutes, not near hot, within a half hour with source signal amp plate was hot, no degradation to SQ though, I am confused, like I said I think I got my Legend a little after you got the Empire, are they not supposed to be a scaled down version (Legend) of the Empire's amp. Are you're internal heat sinks "Massive" as the literature states?
Jeff

 

[j_garcia]

No, I wouldn't call the heat sinks massive, but I suppose big for a class D amp. However as I mentioned, the Empire amp is literally twice the size (width) of the amp that they sent me.

 

[ahblaza]

No, I wouldn't call the heat sinks massive, but I suppose big for a class D amp. However as I mentioned, the Empire amp is literally twice the size (width) of the amp that they sent me.

I guess it should be as it is 600 RMS compared to 300, you statement is a testament to the LACK OF COMMUNICATION on Epik's part. Even if Chad would replace my amp all I would be getting is the same thing, I thought there had been a revision to the amps since first production, but after reading what he told you it looks like it's going to be a long time coming. I'm at least going to pull the drivers and measure the DC resistance and see if the excess heat is slowly damaging the VC's if Chad would get back to me with the correct values??? Thanks

 

[mdm1699]

Sounds like buyer's remorse. I think you should quit fiddling with the sub and just enjoy it. If you wanted something more "reliable that won't ultimately break" then you should have spent 2-3-4 times more for a Seaton/JL Audio/JTR etc. There are folks who just hate Epik subs even though they have never owned them. I have never had an issue with my Empire. Just enjoy the sub.

 

[Matt34]

Sounds like buyer's remorse. I think you should quit fiddling with the sub and just enjoy it. If you wanted something more "reliable that won't ultimately break" then you should have spent 2-3-4 times more for a Seaton/JL Audio/JTR etc. There are folks who just hate Epik subs even though they have never owned them. I have never had an issue with my Empire. Just enjoy the sub.

 

[j_garcia]

I guess it should be as it is 600 RMS compared to 300, you statement is a testament to the LACK OF COMMUNICATION on Epik's part. Even if Chad would replace my amp all I would be getting is the same thing, I thought there had been a revision to the amps since first production, but after reading what he told you it looks like it's going to be a long time coming. I'm at least going to pull the drivers and measure the DC resistance and see if the excess heat is slowly damaging the VC's if Chad would get back to me with the correct values??? Thanks

I know you bought yours early on, but I do think there was a revision to the amp for the Legend, but not for the Empire as I haven't heard reports of many issues with the Empire amps.

The slow/lack of communication both on your part and mine does concern me though.

 

[ahblaza]

Sounds like buyer's remorse. I think you should quit fiddling with the sub and just enjoy it. If you wanted something more "reliable that won't ultimately break" then you should have spent 2-3-4 times more for a Seaton/JL Audio/JTR etc. There are folks who just hate Epik subs even though they have never owned them. I have never had an issue with my Empire. Just enjoy the sub.

What is the price tag of a product that is "reliable and won't ultimately break", at this time I am unaware of any such device at any price, enjoy your Empire, I'm happy for you, I also like my Legend but am constantly reminded of the excessive heat which we all know is detrimental to all electronics. Thanks for the post.............

 

[ahblaza]

I know you bought yours early on, but I do think there was a revision to the amp for the Legend, but not for the Empire as I haven't heard reports of many issues with the Empire amps.

The slow/lack of communication both on your part and mine does concern me though.

Thanks for the heads up John for Legend revised amp, I also believed that to be true, but I guess I will never know until my amp fails, I really don't know how it's lasted as long as it has, I literally can not touch it after 20 minutes use, that can't be right, where might I go to see if others are having heat issues with their Legends and if they got replacements? I understand your concern my friend, it is frustrating. You might get Chad's attention at the Epik Facebook page, that's how he responded to me that evrything is fine with the amp, end of discussion (BS).......He probably sent you the revised Legend amp, I'll gladly take it off your hands..........

 

[j_garcia]

We'll see what happens with the amp that was sent and if it ends up staying with me, I will happily ship it to you. Talked to Chad a little while ago. Like most things, as long as it gets taken care of to my satisfaction, I don't mind waiting a little while for it. My patience only goes so far, and though it has been slow, it isn't something that I feel is unreasonable. Would I like it to be better? Yes, but I can't complain about how it has been handled thus far.

 

[ahblaza]

We'll see what happens with the amp that was sent and if it ends up staying with me, I will happily ship it to you. Talked to Chad a little while ago. Like most things, as long as it gets taken care of to my satisfaction, I don't mind waiting a little while for it. My patience only goes so far, and though it has been slow, it isn't something that I feel is unreasonable. Would I like it to be better? Yes, but I can't complain about how it has been handled thus far.

Sounds good. I,ve been scouring some forums of Epik sub owners and indeed found many owners who have received their Legends DOA or the amps lasted a couple of weeks, chief complaint was amp would get so hot that it would shut down, I found several of these complaints, Chad did send out replacement amps but the same thing happened again in the same time frame. There were multiple situations where replacement for replacements amps have been sent, these are not isolated cases. Chad said every Legend was thouroughly tested prior to shipping yet units arrived DOA. On the positive side I found just a handful of Empire amp failure and was not related to heat, most Empire owners never had experienced anything above warm. Surprisingly legend owners prior to their amps failing were more than satisfied with the SQ of the Legend and did not want refunds but preferred to get multiple replacement amps until they got one that didn't burn up. It seems Empire subs have been relatively free from problems relating to amp failure. I had to dig deep to find a negative owner review of the Empire, not so with the Legend. I hope you get the right amp soon, it seems he is trying to make this right for you, let me know.Thanks John

 

[ahblaza]

We'll see what happens with the amp that was sent and if it ends up staying with me, I will happily ship it to you. Talked to Chad a little while ago. Like most things, as long as it gets taken care of to my satisfaction, I don't mind waiting a little while for it. My patience only goes so far, and though it has been slow, it isn't something that I feel is unreasonable. Would I like it to be better? Yes, but I can't complain about how it has been handled thus far.

John, any update with your new amp from Chad???

 

[j_garcia]

The Empire strikes back! Amp arrived late Thurs. I just installed it and all seems fine now.

A little insurance on the crimp connectors that came on the amp

 

[BoredSysAdmin]

The Empire strikes back! Amp arrived late Thurs. I just installed it and all seems fine now.

Contrats John! Did you have to pay for the amp or they replaced it for free?

 

[j_garcia]

Contrats John! Did you have to pay for the amp or they replaced it for free?

It was considered a faulty amp so it was replaced free of charge.

 

[Alex2507]

That pink matches our Team Twister man thongs.

Signed,

Adam, Rick and Doug

 

[Adam]

That pink matches our Team Twister man thongs.

Signed,

Adam, Rick and Doug

P.S. But the shrink tubing doesn't fit as tight.

 

[ahblaza]

It was considered a faulty amp so it was replaced free of charge.

John did you have to send the Legend amp back???

 

[j_garcia]

Haven't talked to Chad about that amp. I will and will let you know.

That pink matches our Team Twister man thongs.

Signed,

Adam, Rick and Doug

Um.....thanks for sharing? Thanks for skipping the pics.

It looks pinkish, but it is actually red, it just has that white powdery junk that is usually on shrink wrap.

 

[STRONGBADF1]

Haven't talked to Chad about that amp. I will and will let you know.



Um.....thanks for sharing? Thanks for skipping the pics.

It looks pinkish, but it is actually red, it just has that white powdery junk that is usually on shrink wrap.

White powdery junk & shrink wrap....Sounds like a night at Alex's place.