2. amps-preamps
  3. 137020-115905

Looking for AMP relacement

Let me start my post off by saying that I'm not an AV guy.....so my knowledge in this area is very limited, but at m company where I run the IT department, I'm also in charge of the CEO's home theater.

My regular AV guy is out for a couple weeks and my boss wants his amp replaced now....I got tasked with it.

Theater runs Mark Levinson amps and the one that has gone bad is a 432 that powers the front L/R channels (Dyn Audio speakers) that are running in 4ohm configuration.

At this point i'm just looking for something as good or better than I can order asap (he told me to throw money at the problem and get it resolved)  :)

Any suggestions? Or can anyone point me in the right direction?

Thanks in advance for the help.

Robert 
128x128ra3
7 responses Add your response
mcreyn
293 posts
 
You are probably best off ordering another Levinson to closely match the asthetics and equipment there. If the owner doesn’t know what he wants, he likely cares more that it matches and just works. The current model is the 536. If not the Levinson, a Bryston 14b sst3. I say Bryston as they work in nearly any application, sound good and have 20 year warranty. They are very reliable.  You can order Bryston fro Audio Advisor, but will take 4-5 days.  
wloeb
43 posts
 
Perhaps find a local Mark Levinson dealer (especially the one who sold the 432) and request a loaner while the amp is repaired.   If you want to throw money at the problem order a levinson 534 and request a loaner while you wait.
audiothesis
168 posts
 
My recommendation is to get something like the Parasound 2250 V2 or the Halo A21 to hold its place and find a reputable repair technician and have them repair the ML.  I'd imagine he has several of the ML amplifiers and it would be nice to keep them matching.  Then, you can have the Parasound as a back-up amplifier if/when something happens down the road.

By the way, have you checked the fuse to make sure it isn't something trivial?
ra3's avatar
ra3 OP
2 posts
 
Thanks for the info guys..the owner actually said he doesn’t care what it looks like, just as long as it sounds good.  The amps are hidden behind a false door concealing the equipment. 

Ill do some  research.
jackd
1,068 posts
 
The new Parasound JC-5 is now available from Audio Advisor with next day shipping and the Bryston's are always a safe as far as sound, reliability and warranty.
jafant's avatar
jafant
19,604 posts
 
Welcome! ra3
stick w/ the Mark Levinson. Consult your local dealer/retailer and keep us posted. It would be of interest to learn why the No. 432 failed?

Happy Listening!
atmasphere's avatar
atmasphere
11,800 posts
 
You will want to examine the connections between the amp and speakers (looking for shorts, like ’cat whiskers’ of copper strands due to sloppy installation) and also **make sure** the speakers are not damaged!
If the voice coils of the speakers got overheated, they may be presenting an adverse load (near short) to the amp, even an amp that is supposed to handle things like that!

There is a reason the amp failed- and this is one of the more common reasons. Another would be if the amp was overheated in its cabinet due to insufficient air flow.

So be careful- I suspect the situation will worsen if the replacement amp were to fail right away!!
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