ARC M300 MKII call for help
Help! I have a pair of Audio Research M300 MKII mono blocks from yesteryear, and have enjoyed them for many years. One of them has a short in the panel behind the tubes. The guys down at the factory just got back to me, saying that they can no longer repair this model, due to age and lack of parts. Can anyone out there steer me to someone who might be able to repair it? I can send pictures of the shorted out area. Would hate to retire these beautiful behemoths.
Who did you speak with at ARC, @bratscheboy? Although those amps are probably around 35 years old, they not listed as one of the few models ARC no longer services. See this. |
Greg Christensen was the responding repair team tech. He still had a record of a 2016 servicing of one of the mono blocks. Thanks for the suggestions. I will pursue and report back. Here is the correspondence from ARC. Dear Scott Summary: I see your amplifiers were last here in 2016 according to our records. Unfortunately we are no longer able to provide parts or service for the M300 or M300 mk2. Too many of the parts used in that model have become obsolete and we do not have modern replacement parts that will work in that design. I'm sorry to have to give you the bad news but I'm afraid we will not be able to work on this unit for you. Thank you, Greg Christensen |
Try to contact John Rutan at Audio Connection in NJ. He’s a long time ARC dealer and might know someone who can fix that amp. |
OP - Sorry to hear that those parts are no longer available - They have been in service a long time. This forum is a great resource for locating parts & service. Good Luck! (To those complaining/inferring "ARC won't repair...", please know that the M300 MkII Amps were introduced in 1987. Have your Amps lasted that long? I doubt it...Many companies are still working to resource their parts and accessories from 4 years ago (Pre-COVID).
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Although risky and possibly pricey you could try looking for a person in a similar situation and buy their one good amp. Make one good one out of two bad. Also, @bigkidz in NJ has repeatedly said most anything can be fixed, time and money...time and money. Regards, barts |
ARC has to be able to warrant the repair. That means no tinkering or "close enough" parts. However that does not mean that the amp cannot be repaired. I would ask ARC for a detailed explanation of what they found and what would be needed to fix based on their findings. That would be your starting point toward finding a potential non ARC repair. |
I am very moved and appreciative of all of your very helpful and informed responses and suggestions. I have a few feelers out using some of the sources you have indicated, including sending pictures of the area affected. My wife commented on the quality of people I have almost always come in contact with in the audiophile community. I have procured a pair of PS Audio BHK 300’s from an enthusiast in Phoenix, and am very impressed as an initial impression. I am sure technology has made strides since the M300’s’ introduction. But they are worth saving, I think, if at all possible. Like me, they may be dated, but not ready to be retired! |
Check w/ https://www.georgemeyer-av.com/ They are an authorized ARC repair center and keep their own inventory of ARC parts. They may have the part you need. Good liuck! |
