So last weekend I go to power up my Yamaha DSP-A1 and I get a faint buzz followed by a pop then it shuts off.. What the hells?!.. I needed to check to see if it would play again so I reluctantly turned it on and it does the same thing.. Damn!.. I unplug it and try again and now it just shuts off without any noise.. Man, my system is down.. No glorious tunes. no spinning cd's and no sweet, warm analog lp's.. Suck!
So today I unhook and pull the A1 out of the rack and replace it with my old Yamaha DSP-A2070 while the A1 goes for service.. (keep in mind I've been stressing trying to find and decide who will work on my amp) I need some tunes and the 2070 should easily satisfy me until the A1 returns, if it does.. So once I connect the 3 front speakers I fire up the old 2070 that I pulled out of the closet after 16 years.. Buzz, Bam!.. What the hells?!,, It's deja vu.. The same thing as the A1.. Now I'm perplexed.. I disconnect the cables and power on the system without anything hooked up at all.. The amp stays on.. I'm looking at my Home Depot orange extension cords used for cable lying on the floor and think, maybe they're bad.. I have had an ongoing issue recently with the right channel and sometimes the center (not at the same time) cut out.. I would just quickly blast the volume and the speakers would work fine.. Every few weeks I would have to rely on this trick in order to keep rockin'..
I realize maybe I have a speaker cable issue.. I see that the rear cables are older Monster cables and decide to hook them up to the front main connectors to see if it's a cable failure.. I hit the power and the rear NHT Superones sing out sweet jazz tunes.. Whew, cables go bad I guess.. I then swap amps out again and slide the A1 back into place to run the same test.. Will the rear speakers fire up when connected to the mains?.. Nope.. Something is fried and the protective circuit is not powering it up.. Crap!.. I definitely have to take it to be serviced now.. However, did I kill my front speakers too?.. I need to find out right now..
I drop off the A1 to a local authorized repair shop.. Believe me, I told them I love my baby and I'm so stressed right now I can't eat, drink or have sex.. I even ask them to watch this fantastic video on youtube of someone doing repairs on their A1.. The same repairs I need.. Yes, my display lights are also dodgy.. Jazz Club is now displayed as Ja C b.. Not good but i was still rockin',, This video is beautiful to watch.. The production and info given is top notch.. I thought it would be a great aid that might help..
I decide now is not the time to spend $400 on audioquest cables when who knows how much the A1 repair will be.. But I just need to know if my speakers are toast or not.. I hate the idea but decide to get to Home Depot and just purchase some speaker wire there.. I get the 14 gauge made in China that looks more like super thin string cheese.. I get home and hook up the 3 main speakers and hit the power button while my heart is racing.. Finally, I can breathe as the room fills up with jazz again.. Love 88.1 the jazz and blues station out here in L.A.
So now here's my question.. I love my A1.. It sounds sweet and I'm just getting back into vinyl again after my recent Pro-ject esprit turntable.. Listening to Linda Ronstadt records is beautiful.. You guys must get all her recordings.. Especially the 3 she did with Nelson Riddle singing standards.. Phenomenal.. I watch blu-rays with my Oppo hooked up using the external analog jacks.. Dolby True HD and DTS HD sound excellent.. So I want the A-1 repaired but at what expense?.. I don't want to spend loads of cash but I'm really not to excited about a new purchase either.. I don't care much about the new features.. I listen to cd's and vinyl.. Mostly vinyl now.. I definitely don't care about Dolby Atmos.. I predict failure for that new format.. It's just not my thing..
Also my 2070 weighs 46 lbs.. The A1 weighs a manly 55 lbs.. The new Yamaha Aventage RX-A840 weighs 23 lbs I think.. So are you guys into the new equipment or the old?.. Anyone think the A1 should be tossed aside?.. Is the new gear a big step up sound wise?. Meaning amp sound not the option to listen to HiRez and all..
