Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 34
  1. #1
    Loving This kexodusc's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    Department of Heuristics and Research on Material Applications
    Posts
    9,025

    Ever wonder what fried circuit boards smell like?

    Rough weekend. In the span of 5 days I've lost three of my best friends.

    2 days after I sold my trusty ol' Rotel RB-980 power amp and NAD 3140 integrated to clear out some of the less frequently used goods for the impending move, one of my Adcom GFA-535 s died.

    Poor guy...not sure what happened exactly, I was playing some music moderately loud and next thing I knew one channels stopped playing. Checked connections really quick - nope, all seemed well. Then it hit me - the scorched scent of epoxy and pvc.

    Took the amp in, and sure enough the left channel is toast. Cost of repair far exceeds the value of the amp. This really bums me out.

    I feel like I just buried two children only to come home and find another had passed away...


    Now my HT is severely crippled. I have one GFA-535 left. Still running the front mains. I've had to move an idle AudioSource Amp One that was about to have a for sale sign hung on its window (excellent little amp by the way) into surround duty. The Yammie is pulling triple duty on the center and rear surrounds. First time I've had to use that many channels on it. And I think I can hear my wife laughing every time I glance at my a/v rack...

    That poor little 60 watt/channel Adcom was a beast of an amp for over 2 decades. And it still sounded better to me than any 100 watt a/v receiver today. His twin brother looks awfully out of place on my rack now. I'm going to have to find another use for him somewhere. Probably my workshop system where a lonely NAD 3020 could use a friend.

    The Yammie holds its own on HT and multi-channel music in the meantime but things just aren't the same. 3 different amplifiers, 3 different sonic spins. That's no good, and now it's bugging me both audibly and visually.

    Losing the NAD wasn't so bad - it was a pawn shop find that I never did use much. The Rotel was purchased just to see if a Rotel amp sounded much different than previous NAD amp I had. (I think it did) Still, got some use out of it, nice piece that is going to a good home...Heck it was a killer amp that I liked alot. Except I like the Adcoms better Gonna miss all those guys...

    But life goes on and this gives me an excuse, nay, a REASON to perform a little experiment I've kinda been wanting to do for a few months now...more on that in 5-10 business days.
    Last edited by kexodusc; 04-21-2008 at 03:50 PM.

  2. #2
    Da Dragonball Kid L.J.'s Avatar
    Join Date
    Aug 2005
    Location
    Posted in da cut
    Posts
    3,577
    Dude, that comment you put in about your wife is soo funny. Kinda sounds like my wife when UPS lost my C-3's.
    UPS lost my C-1's
    What's up with these women man

    Umm...soo...you gonna have a nice lil review coming out soon huh?

  3. #3
    Loving This kexodusc's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    Department of Heuristics and Research on Material Applications
    Posts
    9,025
    Quote Originally Posted by L.J.
    Dude, that comment you put in about your wife is soo funny. Kinda sounds like my wife when UPS lost my C-3's.
    UPS lost my C-1's
    What's up with these women man
    Certain future plans necessitated the liquidation of a few pieces of gear, against my better judgment, much to her interior-decorator-wannabe glee. She's been nag--err..relentlessly suggesting the reduction of inventory for some time now. The untimely demise of another amp just made her day.
    I'm pretty sure she's wishing a few tweeters would blow too.

  4. #4
    Super Moderator Site Moderator JohnMichael's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Central Ohio
    Posts
    6,307
    I can share your pain. I loaned a friend my Rotel RA 970BX and he hooked up three pairs of speakers somehow. Now he says it looks all melted inside. I asked him to save me the pain and not return it. I am sure he knows what fried circuit boards smell like. Sadly he does not know the smell of firing neurons.
    JohnMichael
    Vinyl Rega Planar 2, Incognito rewire, Deepgroove subplatter, ceramic bearing, Michell Technoweight, Rega 24V motor, TTPSU, FunkFirm Achroplat platter, Michael Lim top and bottom braces, 2 Rega feet and one RDC cones. Grado Sonata, Moon 110 LP phono.
    Digital
    Sony SCD-XA5400ES SACD/cd SID mat, Marantz SA 8001
    Int. Amp Krell S-300i
    Speaker
    Monitor Audio RS6
    Cables
    AQ SPKR and AQ XLR and IC

  5. #5
    Loving This kexodusc's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    Department of Heuristics and Research on Material Applications
    Posts
    9,025
    Quote Originally Posted by JohnMichael
    I can share your pain. I loaned a friend my Rotel RA 970BX and he hooked up three pairs of speakers somehow. Now he says it looks all melted inside. I asked him to save me the pain and not return it. I am sure he knows what fried circuit boards smell like. Sadly he does not know the smell of firing neurons.
    3 pairs of speakers? Didn't he read the memo "not stable into 1 ohm loads"...
    Send him your Krell next time.
    That's aweful JM...with friends like that who needs feng shui wives?

  6. #6
    Man of the People Forums Moderator bobsticks's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    down there
    Posts
    6,852
    Quote Originally Posted by kexodusc
    That's aweful JM...with friends like that who needs feng shui wives?
    Who needs either?

    Sorry gents. I now know there are two kindred souls out there who can relate to my feelings upon opening my last Mac package to find a twisted mass of broken glass and steel. If I can do anything just let me know. I'll be there through the trying times.

    ...sniff...it sucks to lose a friend.
    So, I broke into the palace
    With a sponge and a rusty spanner
    She said : "Eh, I know you, and you cannot sing"
    I said : "That's nothing - you should hear me play piano"

  7. #7
    Loving This kexodusc's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    Department of Heuristics and Research on Material Applications
    Posts
    9,025
    Quote Originally Posted by bobsticks

    I now know there are two kindred souls out there who can relate to my feelings upon opening my last Mac package to find a twisted mass of broken glass and steel.
    A quick death is one thing, but to witness a bloody mutilation, oh the humanity!
    I thought mac glass was bullet proof....

  8. #8
    Man of the People Forums Moderator bobsticks's Avatar
    Join Date
    Dec 2005
    Location
    down there
    Posts
    6,852
    Not when the asswipe who loads the truck thinks he's Zidane Zidane.

    Ol' boy thinks he's got some fancy footwork, I'm hoping karma bites him in the ass and he gets a little of this action...


    So, I broke into the palace
    With a sponge and a rusty spanner
    She said : "Eh, I know you, and you cannot sing"
    I said : "That's nothing - you should hear me play piano"

  9. #9
    Suspended
    Join Date
    Mar 2002
    Location
    St. Louis, MO, USA
    Posts
    10,176
    I had a power supply burn out on an Arcam amp, it smelled so bad I thought I caught the house on fire. Did I ever mention I had an Adcom 5400 I was willing to sell?

  10. #10
    Forum Regular pixelthis's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    tuscaloosa
    Posts
    5,528

    Cool

    Quote Originally Posted by Mr Peabody
    I had a power supply burn out on an Arcam amp, it smelled so bad I thought I caught the house on fire. Did I ever mention I had an Adcom 5400 I was willing to sell?
    I have been looking at a new Adcom 5400.
    Did you like yours?
    LG 42", integra 6.9, B&W 602s2, CC6 center, dm305rears, b&w
    sub asw2500
    Panny DVDA player
    sharp Aquos BLU player
    pronto remote, technics antique direct drive TT
    Samsung SACD/DVDA player
    emotiva upa-2 two channel amp

  11. #11
    Forum Regular pixelthis's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2007
    Location
    tuscaloosa
    Posts
    5,528

    Cool

    HOOKING UP "CAN" capacitors backwards is fun.
    We sent more than one metal case through the roof in class.
    Getting up all of the paper insulator was a chore tho.
    Stay in this hobby and you will smell that smell sooner or later
    LG 42", integra 6.9, B&W 602s2, CC6 center, dm305rears, b&w
    sub asw2500
    Panny DVDA player
    sharp Aquos BLU player
    pronto remote, technics antique direct drive TT
    Samsung SACD/DVDA player
    emotiva upa-2 two channel amp

  12. #12
    Forum Regular audio amateur's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    France
    Posts
    2,524
    Quote Originally Posted by bobsticks
    Not when the asswipe who loads the truck thinks he's Zidane Zidane.

    Ol' boy thinks he's got some fancy footwork, I'm hoping karma bites him in the ass and he gets a little of this action...
    Damn that guy needs to drink more milk. Video has made me cringe more than once

  13. #13
    Suspended
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Out there
    Posts
    6,777
    Quote Originally Posted by audio amateur
    Damn that guy needs to drink more milk. Video has made me cringe more than once
    I almost lost my breakfast.

  14. #14
    Suspended
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Out there
    Posts
    6,777
    Quote Originally Posted by pixelthis
    HOOKING UP "CAN" capacitors backwards is fun.
    We sent more than one metal case through the roof in class.
    Getting up all of the paper insulator was a chore tho.
    Stay in this hobby and you will smell that smell sooner or later
    We're not in high school anymore pix.

  15. #15
    Suspended
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Out there
    Posts
    6,777
    Quote Originally Posted by JohnMichael
    I can share your pain. I loaned a friend my Rotel RA 970BX and he hooked up three pairs of speakers somehow. Now he says it looks all melted inside. I asked him to save me the pain and not return it. I am sure he knows what fried circuit boards smell like. Sadly he does not know the smell of firing neurons.
    This is good. So the next time a nit-wit engineer here gets me pissed off, I'll tell him: if you start to smell burning neurons, you better BACK OFF!

  16. #16
    Suspended
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Out there
    Posts
    6,777
    The irony here Kex is the fact that you were getting ready to replace your receiver, just about the only component that hasn't suffered an ill fate one way or the other.
    Quote Originally Posted by Kex
    And I think I can hear my wife laughing every time I glance at my a/v rack...
    Quote Originally Posted by L.J.
    Dude, that comment you put in about your wife is soo funny.
    I have to agree. That's the only part of your post that I didn't feel sympathetic towards.

  17. #17
    Loving This kexodusc's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    Department of Heuristics and Research on Material Applications
    Posts
    9,025
    Quote Originally Posted by Rich-n-Texas
    The irony here Kex is the fact that you were getting ready to replace your receiver, just about the only component that hasn't suffered an ill fate one way or the other.


    I have to agree. That's the only part of your post that I didn't feel sympathetic towards.
    Yeah. Had I known my amp was going to just die I would have planned things a bit differently. I asked the tech dude about what I can expect for the other Adcom since it's the same age/model. He seems pretty sure this was just an act of god, so to speak and hasn't seen an older Adcom in his shop in years. Stuff happens.
    Just my luck.

  18. #18
    Class of the clown GMichael's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Anywhere but here...
    Posts
    13,243
    Sorry to hear (read) about the loss of your friends. But this does give you the chance to try out that Emotiva amp you were spying. Oh wait! This wasn't planned was it? OH NO! You killed your amp just to see it die? Say it ain't so!
    Sniff sniff... I can't believe it.
    I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE IT!
    WARNING! - The Surgeon General has determined that, time spent listening to music is not deducted from one's lifespan.

  19. #19
    Suspended
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Out there
    Posts
    6,777
    Yeah. Sounds like a stunt L.J. would pull.

  20. #20
    Class of the clown GMichael's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Anywhere but here...
    Posts
    13,243
    I think I smell a few neurons firing.
    (wife won't let me buy a new amp. How about if I just fry this one? Yeah yeah, that works )
    WARNING! - The Surgeon General has determined that, time spent listening to music is not deducted from one's lifespan.

  21. #21
    Forum Regular audio amateur's Avatar
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    France
    Posts
    2,524
    I know what smoked voice coil smells like

  22. #22
    Loving This kexodusc's Avatar
    Join Date
    Nov 2003
    Location
    Department of Heuristics and Research on Material Applications
    Posts
    9,025
    Quote Originally Posted by GMichael
    Sorry to hear (read) about the loss of your friends. But this does give you the chance to try out that Emotiva amp you were spying. Oh wait! This wasn't planned was it? OH NO! You killed your amp just to see it die? Say it ain't so!
    Sniff sniff... I can't believe it.
    I JUST CAN'T BELIEVE IT!
    Aww c'mon GM...I may have kicked a few kiddies out of the house to make room for the next batch of buns in the oven but I ain't no murderer...


  23. #23
    Suspended
    Join Date
    Apr 2004
    Location
    Out there
    Posts
    6,777
    Quote Originally Posted by kexodusc
    Aww c'mon GM...I may have kicked a few kiddies out of the house to make room for the next batch of buns in the oven but I ain't no murderer...

    WHAT? Your wife's pregnant with twins? Hey! Congrats Kex!

  24. #24
    Class of the clown GMichael's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Anywhere but here...
    Posts
    13,243
    I must not read English very well.
    WARNING! - The Surgeon General has determined that, time spent listening to music is not deducted from one's lifespan.

  25. #25
    Class of the clown GMichael's Avatar
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Anywhere but here...
    Posts
    13,243
    Quote Originally Posted by kexodusc
    Aww c'mon GM...I may have kicked a few kiddies out of the house to make room for the next batch of buns in the oven but I ain't no murderer...

    Amp killer.
    WARNING! - The Surgeon General has determined that, time spent listening to music is not deducted from one's lifespan.

Page 1 of 2 1 2 LastLast

Thread Information

Users Browsing this Thread

There are currently 1 users browsing this thread. (0 members and 1 guests)

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •