Amplifiers and powered speakers do one job and do it for decades, so when one fails the cause is nearly always a component that has aged: a power supply, an output stage, a protection circuit. The most important thing to know is what not to do when an amplifier fails, which is to keep switching it on.
Blue Apple repairs speakers and amplifiers in Amsterdam. The speakers and amplifiers page lists the brands we work with, what typical repairs cost and how to send us a request.
What usually goes wrong with speakers and amplifiers
- No power, or the amplifier shuts down in protection. An amplifier that clicks and goes into protect mode is telling you something. A short in a speaker cable is one cause; a failed output stage is another. Do not keep power-cycling it.
- Power supply fault. No power, a blown fuse or a unit that dies under load.
- Amplifier board fault or a dead channel. One speaker silent, or hum and distortion from one side, points at an output stage or a channel.
- DSP board fault. Powered monitors and active speakers with processing can fail on the digital side while the amplifier is fine.
- HDMI input or output fault. An AV receiver that does not pass picture or sound, or loses it intermittently.
- Fan or cooling fault. A fan that has stopped makes an amplifier overheat and shut down.
Brands and models we look at
These are the brands we list for speakers and amplifiers, and some of the models with their own pages, each with an estimate of what a typical repair costs.
Brands: Bose Professional, JBL Professional, QSC, Electro-Voice, Yamaha, RCF, d&b audiotechnik, L-Acoustics, Focal, Genelec, Neumann, Adam Audio, PMC, Naim.
Popular models: Genelec 8030C, KEF LS50 Meta (pair), Devialet Phantom I 108 dB, QSC K12.2, Electro-Voice ELX200-12P, JBL Professional EON715, Yamaha DXR12 mkII, Bose PowerShare PS604A.
Repair or replace?
A good amplifier or a pair of studio monitors is usually worth repairing: the parts that fail are modest in cost, and the sound of a well-made unit is hard to replace. We tell you after the diagnosis what failed and what a repair costs, and say so if a part is no longer available.
Looking after your amplifier
- Check speaker cables for shorts. A strand of wire touching the wrong terminal is a common reason an amplifier protects.
- Give it ventilation. Amplifiers produce heat and need room around them.
- Do not run it into clipping. It overheats the output stage and burns out tweeters.
How a repair works at Blue Apple
The prices for these devices are estimates until we have seen them. Send a request with the model and what is wrong, and we tell you what a repair is likely to cost and how to get the device to us. The final price is confirmed in writing after the diagnosis, before any work starts. You can use the custom repair form, or call 020 239 11 93.
Common questions
My amplifier goes into protection. Should I keep trying?
No. Switch it off, check the speaker cables for shorts and bring it in if it keeps happening; repeated attempts can damage the output stage.
Which brands do you work with?
Genelec, KEF, Yamaha, McIntosh, Marantz, Denon, NAD, Cambridge Audio and more, on the speakers and amplifiers page.
In short
Power supplies, output stages, DSP boards, HDMI boards and fans are what fail on amplifiers and active speakers, and the diagnosis tells you which. See the speakers and amplifiers page for the models and repairs, or send us a request. You will find us at Rijnstraat 76-H in Amsterdam, and you can call 020 239 11 93 with a question first.
