Definitive Technology Mythos STS crapped out... worth repairing?

Buy a pair of sub plate amps from Parts Connection in Canada before Supreme Leader's 25% tariffs kick in.

If you are not bitter about how long they have lasted (but yes you are)  and are annoyed by the customer service.... I would move on. There are so many speakers to choose from at many price points. Start over. Especially since parts are unavailable, what will go next? Just my two cents..

Put the $600 plus into something else (and better).  Definitive's customer service has deteriorated since they were aquired by Sound United and then Masimo, especially for replacement parts.  I've got a pair of BP-10's that need replacement top caps  and were on back order for almost 9 months before I cancelled the order.  

There are a lot of better sounding speakers for music out there in the $800 to $1500 USD range (used) than the "lifestyle" Mythos line.  (The Mythos line was designed more as a home theater speaker than for music.)

I like Jason’s idea

Is it possible that you can get a pair of these (or something like them) to work? Think two new matched amps, not fix one.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/186479945099?chn=ps&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-117182-37290-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=186479945099&targetid=2299003535955&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9003519&poi=&campaignid=21214315381&mkgroupid=161363866036&rlsatarget=pla-2299003535955&abcId=9407526&merchantid=6296724&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA8q--BhDiARIsAP9tKI3OmrDKdqfVTv5KJTxj5lhmkxJXNABTcTLluwYEHp72btWXEn7v64kaAhTJEALw_wcB

AliExpress has Definitive Technology brand, there are probably other sources/options

https://www.aliexpress.us/item/3256805935163485.html?src=google&pdp_npi=4%40dis%21USD%21219.00%21205.86%21%21%21%21%21%40%2112000035848274077%21ppc%21%21%21&src=google&albch=shopping&acnt=708-803-3821&isdl=y&slnk=&plac=&mtctp=&albbt=Google_7_shopping&aff_platform=google&aff_short_key=UneMJZVf&gclsrc=aw.ds&albagn=888888&ds_e_adid=&ds_e_matchtype=&ds_e_device=c&ds_e_network=x&ds_e_product_group_id=&ds_e_product_id=en3256805935163485&ds_e_product_merchant_id=109059468&ds_e_product_country=US&ds_e_product_language=en&ds_e_product_channel=online&ds_e_product_store_id=&ds_url_v=2&albcp=20123152476&albag=&isSmbAutoCall=false&needSmbHouyi=false&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiA8q--BhDiARIsAP9tKI3hnEyswmU5HOPxUvtl7mGWoreA_D7HJNFU3Yr7OnWHdHLTX4aROWEaAhcfEALw_wcB&gatewayAdapt=glo2usa

Having owned the 'flagship' Mythos ST-L's, I'd move on. You can do way better, especially on the used market, and I think you'll realize the bass they produce isn't that musical / natural. (IMHO)

@elliottbnewcombjr - Jason’s idea has one minor problem. A "standard" plate amp isn’t going to fit. You would have to build a separate box for the plate amp.  Unless OP can find a 3rd party to repair it, he is stuck having to deal with Definitive, especially if the board is fried.

Here is a link to pictures of the speaker.  (I tried to get pictures to post, but didn't work... )

https://www.crutchfield.com/S-VDTjd5WZ5rU/p_735MYTHSTS/Definitive-Technology-Mythos-STS-SuperTower.html

Call parts express see if they have anything to help and decide ir price is worth it.good luck in your journey.check hifishark see if there are any used or parts.

jeffbij

I imagined something like a separate box or pair of boxes would be needed. OP says it is possible to pull the existing boards out of the speakers and ship just the boards to somebody for repair.

IF they are the best sounding speakers ever heard in that space: Could buy a working used pair, and have spare parts to keep them going and going

https://www.ebay.com/itm/326464709381?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338381866&toolid=10001&customid=0fbf6e08-fd1c-11ef-922d-383632363063

variations exist, I don't know much about them

https://www.ebay.com/itm/305799297780?_trkparms=amclksrc%3DITM%26aid%3D1110006%26algo%3DHOMESPLICE.SIM%26ao%3D1%26asc%3D279094%26meid%3D3642a6dd0a0c42fe947d68667888dd65%26pid%3D101196%26rk%3D6%26rkt%3D12%26sd%3D116192443195%26itm%3D305799297780%26pmt%3D1%26noa%3D0%26pg%3D2332490%26algv%3DSimVIDwebV3WithCPCExpansionEmbeddingSearchQuerySemanticBroadMatchSingularityRecall%26brand%3DDefinitive%2BTechnology&_trksid=p2332490.c101196.m2219&itmprp=cksum%3A3057992977803642a6dd0a0c42fe947d68667888dd65%7Cenc%3AAQAKAAABUOqalcCsb07ituDYLOrUrH2eG1DBUcAU1siB%252B881ennut1KqikNJ--C2JmJJYbnGBSq9s1cAaLR3u1P2GFHP6cOkMtiQrPwhnArZTi0NFnCkYNs9wPMPnRY0lLYAH0ZUZHgcLozKZqxDS83pUq%252F9XBUiTlX%252F8DyRGY6qJlqzDKf7BubLKO6PdIRCBWw2%252B6dXjX0rOB41ienjbmTL1ejbUmEZ1JDtWnAQS2uY%252BLIYg%252Fas7dQ0FXHxWHIMSmsd9rYB4robxh6%252BGAF35F46odqyFD96qxQOLgq0agyZU5NH0EATwKXtsd92FciTfmxrRH7xPyg0FmYz2Ub3BzodmoHFgoxg7KKZ9Gp3qIZRKidy9x%252FIy6bUC2ZX%252FfTHewLJE2Kp5APJLnb6BZhqZb8zY8TQ5LqxZzIomAbn0OesAv13WOCHk3mfG2nrtsMrGKKN8k6OYQ%253D%253D%7Campid%3APL_CLK%7Cclp%3A2332490&itmmeta=01JNY65F6X75RDJMRTACRPRHEB

then keep an eye out for parts, get lucky find amp board in the future

It’s a lifestyle speaker.  If you’re serious about music forget the repair headache and take this opportunity to buy better speakers.  If you have a price range and share what sound characteristics are important to you you’ll get some great recommendations here. 

could you simply go lows l/r lines out to this 2 channel class d amp, back to the woofers?

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/A800--behringer-a800-power-amplifier?mrkgadid=&mrkgcl=28&mrkgen=&mrkgbflag=&mrkgcat=&acctid=21700000001645388&dskeywordid=92700080984888573&lid=92700080984888573&ds_s_kwgid=58700008756027690&ds_s_inventory_feed_id=97700000007215323&dsproductgroupid=2563241791352&product_id=A800&prodctry=US&prodlang=en&channel=online&storeid=&device=c&network=g&matchtype=&adpos=largenumber&locationid=9003519&creative=709914980394&targetid=aud-297527862170:pla-2563241791352&campaignid=21587258354&awsearchcpc=1&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQiAlbW-BhCMARIsADnwasqmjxgrwYYAXHtsco-pHb6kdR3eQZ1osfbur1DHHKXlF4utVAc2hr8aAqabEALw_wcB&gclsrc=aw.ds

this ones in stock, and they have 1 open box version, clarify the warranty, from maker or from sweetwater

https://www.sweetwater.com/store/detail/NX3000--behringer-nx3000-power-amplifier

@chuckasaurusrex  -  Obviously, a large part of your decision is going to be based on how far you want to go, and what you are willing to do, in this endeavor.  You mentioned that you don't have room for a surround system, which makes me wonder if that includes a separate sub, or additional boxes for a sub amp?  Are you willing to modify the Mythos cabinets to bypass the internals to use any of the external repair methods suggested?  All are valid ideas and doable, but will still cost you several hundred dollars all said and done.)  

We all wish you luck and feel free to keep asking questions.  In the end, it's about the enjoyment you get from the hobby and the music.

- Jeff

As a die-hard speaker builder i think the only reason to keep these speakers now is as a learning experiment.

On E-bay they are running $1k.  $600 for repairs seems like too much, and all the mods suggested above are great, if you are already a speaker hobbyist OR want to learn but none of them get you back to a simple life.  Just how many wires and holes do you want to have running around here?

I strongly suggest that your choices are either pay for repairs or decide to learn a lot more about speaker design and configuration, and be prepared to sink lots of money into these as you learn.  :D  A better path forward there is building a kit from Maidsound, Meniscus or Parts Express honestly.

Thank you - I sincerely appreciate all the responses.

I have only basic knowledge of speakers so I wouldn't likely be comfortable doing anything on my own (even just swapping out one part for another). I'd love to learn more, but realistically I already have several other hobbies with little time to pick up a new one.

I wouldn't want to pick up a used pair (even for parts) because of the likelihood of the same problem recurring. The local repair shop said that because of the speaker design there is way to bypass the integrated amp,but I don't know if that is actually true.

I don't have a dedicated listening room and as space is a bit of an issue I'd prefer to stick with a two channel system for both music and movies - hence the appeal of the integrated subwoofers in the DT versions. Whether or not the bass they produce is "musical / natural" is an interesting question as I really have nothing to compare them against. I really did like the big bass sound (as well as the soundstage), but maybe I'm not that sophisticated a listener. I used the speakers with an Anthem I225 amplifier and an Oppo BDP-105 BR player.

I listen to a lot of 1970s and early 1980s funk and reggae, and the quality of the original recordings varies (especially with reggae albums). Bass and drum heavy music... My wife listens to other kinds of music and we inherited a huge vinyl classical music collection which we might try out some day as well, so I do still care about other genres.

I may see if there is some place reasonably local to me (ideally Greater Toronto Area) who could do the repair for significantly less money. I don't want to throw good money after bad. I might alternatively consider spending up to US$2000 for new speakers. Recommendations would be welcome in either scenario.

Thanks again.

Chuck