STR-DA9000ES quandry


Howdy!

I have a Sony STR-DA9000ES receiver that I purchased in 2004 and a few weeks ago, it began shutting down after a few minutes with "Protector error 11".  I disconnected it and it still did it.  I called Sony and they recommended a complete factory reset.   I did that, and it no longer reports this error when disconnected, but does report it after playing at volume for a few minutes.

I sent it to the Laredo service center for a similar problem back in 2008; they replaced a few parts and it's been fine since then.  It drives a pair of B&W Nautilus 801s.  I originally bought the STR-DA9000ES intending to slowly build a surround system, but that's part of a remodel that we still haven't started. The 801s sound wonderful -- the Sony amps produce a rock-solid center image under the 70" TV, so I was even able to avoid adding the center speaker.

Last year, I bought a Marantz 8801 prepro and that's now doing decoding and preamplification duties, so for a year, I was using the Sony only as a 2 channel amp.  After it started shutting down, I took a Nakamichi PA-7 out of a storage closet and am using that between the Marantz and the 801s until I figure out how to proceed.  

So, my quandry:

1) should I have the Sony repaired and continue using it, even though I'm only using two out of the seven channels?  I did bi-wire since the Sony has two outputs for the mains.

2) Since I don't have a surround system and won't for at least another 2-3 years, should I have it repaired and then sell it?  I see on the Audiogon Bluebook that it's going for about $1,000 -- presumably as a 7-channel S-master digital amp, since it only has DVI digital inputs.

3) Should I try to sell it as-is in the current state?  They've been sold on Ebay for $250 in this state and there's currently one listed for $400.

When I called Sony ES support, I was told that Sony closed their Laredo service center a few years back and service is now handled through something called United Radio Service in East Syracuse, NY.  Has anyone used them?  Given that the STR-DA9000ES is more of a computer than anything else, I'm worried that a non-manufacturer shop might be able to simply replace boards rather than trouble-shoot the problem like Sony did in 2008.  And being more than 10 years old, parts are likely not available so I'd be out round-trip shipping of this 50lb beast.

Any advice would be most welcome.
128x128invaderzim

Showing 1 response by coolhunter

At sometime we all become orphans. Give it up, after all ten years of service, that  is not bad.  Move on.  Sell it on eBay for parts.  Your future should be a pre-pro plus amps.  It is the old theory of risk, being diversify. One of the benefits of pre-pro is that you can custom tailor the power to each speaker, something that is not possible with an all in one.