[Rocket]

Hi,

Well after a previous post where I went a bit over the top regarding my comments I promise to behaviour myself. 

I have to say that I'm really frustrated with this hobby at the moment.  I earn an average wage but despite my financial limitations I have worked second jobs etc to be able to afford a good quality system.  In late 2009 I had some money put away and I bought a pair of Ampzilla monoblocks from an authorised dealer.  I paid over $5000US (can't remember the exact figure) for the amps and bought them with the intention of having them as my retirement amps.

Anyway, I had a number of problems with the amps i.e. continually blowing fuses and a loud tranformer buzz from one of the amps.  Because I live in Australia I had no backup with warranty and sent the amp to a audio technician in Melbourne who repairs high quality amps.  After 8 months I eventually had to go complain to consumer affairs to get them amps back.  I was told that the amps were fixed when they were returned.

Unfortunately they presented the same problems and what I discovered was that the technician had replaced the fuses with slow blow type to minimise problems whilst turning the amplifier on.  I eventually accepted that I had to be ultra careful turning the amplifier on but the persistent buzzing from one of the monoblocks was quite annoying.  The manufacturer suggested buying a humbuster to reduce the noise and I purchased this problem and set it up in my system but to no avail the buzzing persisted.

Eventually the manufacturer agreed to let me purchase a new transformer which cost me $400US and plus $300 shipping.  Anyway, I received the transformer and had it installed by a local technician.  The buzzing is still present and I can hear it at my listening position (no change at all) .

Really I don't know what to do and I'd like to sell the amps but in all good conscience I cannot offload them onto another person.  I'm feeling really frustrated with this situation  .  I've decided to just live with the problem from now on.  Btw I've spent about $1500US trying to fix the problem  .

I've thoroughly enjoyed my time on audiocircle and I thought I would share the source of my frustration.  I still don't understand why the other monoblock and my Son of Ampzilla don't buzz like the problematic amplfier.

Regards

Rod

[Pez]

Rod,
To me it sounds like you are less frustrated with the hobby than you are with the damned amp buzz. Unfortunately horror stories like this are not uncommon. I WOULD sell the amps with the caveat that one amp may cause buzzing. Let the buyer understand that the item is as is. You won't get nearly enough for your trouble and you have to be ready for that. I would suggest never buying anything you can't try in your system for some trial period of time with a money back guarantee.

It's no fun to get screwed like that and it's unfortunate that you had to buy a part that IMO the manufacturer should be on the hook for.

[pardales]

If you bought these from an authorized dealer they should have had some warranty.

[wywires]

Rob,

Please PM me...I may be able to help.

Alex

[Letitroll98]

Sorry to hear about your troubles.  I have to agree with the sentiment of disposing of the amps either return to the dealer, which doesn't seem to be an option if I read your post correctly, or selling them at a loss, perhaps to someone equipped to render repairs.  Unfortunately James Bongiorno has had a long history of quality control problems.  He seems to be a talented designer, but could use some assistance in QC.  I'm surprised at the $5000 price tag, his claim to fame with the original Ampzilla was high power for the masses.  Anyway, you might try contacting them directly at the factory at 805-740-9902 or sstinc@earthlink.net or jamesbongiorno@ampzilla2000.com what could it hurt?   

[jimdgoulding]

Alex, I hope you can.  I feel for you, Rod.  Sounds like you're going to have spend some money to get happy.  Depending on the efficiency of your speakers, keep it mind that you may not need a megawatt amp or amps to drive your speakers.  If that is the case, there are quality alternatives that won't cost you near five grand.  I am a sometime participant at Stereo.net.au in your woods and think you can trust their regulars for advice and maybe a hook up to a quality replacement.  The best to you.

[madisonears]

Seems that you made a bad buying decision, so you get little sympathy here.  It's true that any dealer or manufacturer should stand behind their product better than this one has.  Why did you buy an untrialed $5k amp when there is no warranty coverage locally?  No equipment is worth that kind of risk, especially if you're not rich.

I didn't know Ampzilla was still being made.  Is it still a Great American Sound product?  That company was notorious for poor quality and failures.  I purchased a Son of Ampzilla in the mid-70's and, because of a horrible operating fault that almost destoyed my very expensive speakers, exchanged it three times (all failed the same way) before I finally gave up and got a Threshold, which ran for 20 years with few problems.

If the amp performs okay other than the buzzing tranny, I suggest you take it to another location and see if the buzzing goes away.  Since you already replaced it once and the problem persists, it could be caused by DC on your mains.  This will usually not seriously impair the amp's performance.  Can you put it in a remote location so you can't hear the buzzing?  Basement?  Next room?

Another alternative is buy a better power conditioner.  Channel Islands makes a device especially suited for filtering DC, and it's not terribly expensive.

Good luck.

Peace,
Tom E

[Bigfish]

Rocket:

As suggested in an earlier post have you had the opportunity to check the amps in another location?  It would indeed confirm it is a problem with the amp(s) and not with some interference from your power system. 

I remember your posts from a long time ago when you decided to purchase the amps.  I am sorry to hear it is been a bummer!

Good Luck,

Ken

[jtwrace]

Channel Islands makes a device especially suited for filtering DC, and it's not terribly expensive.

Good luck.

Peace,
Tom E

See below...

The manufacturer suggested buying a humbuster to reduce the noise and I purchased this problem and set it up in my system but to no avail the buzzing persisted.


Regards

Rod

[eclein]

Rod--I for one hope it works out somehow for ya. If I had anything that would help you out I'd be sending it. It kind of amazes me that folks just pop up and pile on the negativity, if there is anything I can do to help please let me know.
 

Seems that you made a bad buying decision, so you get little sympathy here.  It's true that any dealer or manufacturer should stand behind their product better than this one has.  Why did you buy an untrialed $5k amp when there is no warranty coverage locally?  No equipment is worth that kind of risk, especially if you're not rich.

 I just couldn't bring myself to type anything like this^^^^^^knowing that the opening poster would read it eventually.
But hey I could be wrong....Good luck...Ed

[Mass. Wine Guy]

Rod, I can empathize with you. I have a slight hum in my system (ground loop, I believe), though my gear is working ok. I don't understand why anyone would accuse you of buying bad gear and offering no sympathy. Tough crowd. I think faulty gear can happen to anyone with any brand. I hope that you get your situation resolved as soon as possible.

[Quiet Earth]

I think we can all empathize. Try to look on this as a learning experience and don't give up. Yes I hear you.......... it's easy for me to say, but I have been there myself so I know how you feel.

Btw, do you have DC on your AC line? Get a cheap voltmeter and check it.
Did it hum at the tech center?

No excuse for blowing fuses and pampering to turn it on. Maybe get another tech to look at it. Keep us posted.

[Bob in St. Louis]

 I just couldn't bring myself to type anything like this^^^^^^knowing that the opening poster would read it eventually.
But hey I could be wrong....Good luck...Ed

Agreed. That was pretty harsh and uncalled for. 

[NekoAudio]

Have you confirmed that the hum is actually coming from the transformer and due to your AC power line? You can do this by disconnecting the amp from your pre-amp and speakers, and using your ear to isolate the sound within the amp when it is plugged in and turned on. Have all your other gear turned off and unplugged.

[Rocket]

Hi Guys,

Sorry didn't know people were posting to my thread and thus the late response.

Seems that you made a bad buying decision, so you get little sympathy here.  It's true that any dealer or manufacturer should stand behind their product better than this one has.  Why did you buy an untrialed $5k amp when there is no warranty coverage locally?  No equipment is worth that kind of risk, especially if you're not rich.

Oh well 18 posts on the forum and thanks for your input.  Whilst I hadn't heard this particular amplifier before I do own a current Son of Ampzilla which has been totally bullet proof for five years in my system.  I live in Australia and hifi gear is 2 - 3 times what you typically pay in the US and that was why I imported the amps.

The total truth of the matter is that the dealer and manufacturer had a dust up over the sale of the amps to me and I mine were the last product sold by the dealer before he lost his dealership.  The manufacturer was quite unhelpful and whilst I believe I've been a good customer I feel let down.  Basically, I have been caught in the middle regarding the fallout by the manufacturer and dealer

Anyway, I have collected the amplifier from my audio technician and it is still buzzing without change.  I have isolated it from my system and there is very little hum but I can hear buzzing from the amp at my seated position which is about 9 feet away from the amplifier. 

I'm hoping that Alex from Wywires might provide me with some advice.  To be totally honest I have taken up a new hobby and play trumpet in 2 community jazz bands and I don't have as much time to listen to my system but it would be nice to hear it on occasions.  I really don't want to sell the amplifier because I would feel guilty offloading it onto another person, fully knowing there were issues with it.

Btw I did by my Kanstul professional level trumpet direct from the US and it plays with no problems.  At least I knew that if there were issues with it that sending it back to the US wouldn't be prohibitive  .

Thanks for your posts.  I appreciate it.

Kind Regards

Rod

[AKSA]

Rod,

A horror story....  very sorry to hear of it.

Perhaps you can try buying in Oz, and try before you buy?

I might be able to offer this approach to you, after what you've been through.

Cheers,

Hugh

[JLM]

I've been burned twice before:

A used Njoe tjoeb 4000 with upsampler board and extra tubes (got zero support from Kevin at Upscale Audio, the U.S. distributor, except to try to sell me a new upsampler board which he felt was the problem).

A new modded Tripath amp from Red Wine Audio that required factory replacement of the battery was damaged twice during shipping (others here at AC cursed poor build quality and apparent lack of properly securing that heavy component).  Vinnie fixed it both times, but wouldn't help with the cost or admit to being at all responsible either time.  So I dumped it (after the 2nd repair with full disclosure) and my Red Wine modded SB3.


Rod, I'm approaching retirement too, but have taken a different tack.  I've assembled a system I'm very happy with (without getting a second job, as I wouldn't feel right stretching myself that far going into the financial coasting of retirement) while still in my 50's.  But for the long haul into the sunset I figured that I won't be able to hear as well and eventually have to move into smaller and smaller places, so I'm thinking down the road into something like an affordable Peachtree Decco2 (small, simple, with quality DAC, pre-amp, and headphone amp).  The decent power amp will do fine for background/low level listening in a shared/non-isolated listening environment and I can do nice headphones for serious listening, all via a PC (probably by then a geriatric geared Apple computer).

Take a deep breath, and keep it light and breezy.

[richidoo]

The amps are built by Cullen (Wired4Sound) under contract, so quality should not be a problem, but obviously it is. You might contact them. A friend of mine has had positive experience with their service dept.

http://www.cullencircuits.com/

[Rocket]

Hi,

Thanks for the positive comments.  I'm testing the problematic amp at the moment with the ps audio humbuster and will see how the transformer behaves.  The audio technician charged me a bit  more because the wires did not have terminals and he had to modify the mounting on the transformer because it wouldn't fit the amplifier.

I did previously contact cullent circuit and I was referred to SST for backup.  I'll see how the amp performs with the humbuster in the loop and will report later.  Initially the transformer was buzzing this afternoon but later it did not buzz at all with the humbuster in the loop and I'll see how it goes.  Previously the humbuster has made no difference to the buzzing in the transformer and therefore I'm crossing my fingers that it works.

This is a major lesson for me regarding shipping really heavy items from OS to Australia despite the strong aussie dollar.   The main reason I bought these high powered amps was because I intended on buying low efficiency speakers in the next couple of years.

Regarding Red Wine equipment I had only heard that the battery preamp had issues with the older style batteries.

Regards

Rod

[JoshK]

Just some random thoughts if you have a local technician, not that you really wish to spend a lot more money on the problem.

This issue I wouldn't be able to diagnose super well myself, but conceptually, if you had access to a scope and an AM radio, i'd check for oscillation.  Just seems like a possible explanation for why it might be buzzing.  Somehow, the transformer is being exciting by something and it seems like some sort of oscillation could be the issue.

You might have just changed the bandaid but not fixed the boo-boo.