Will an Iron Shield Work?

PB, I did contact Cary about this. They are making a new version of this amp. They offered to install a new version of the input board and make some other, unspecified, upgrades. They wouldn’t confirm a definite cost but the estimate started at $450 plus $125/hr labor. When I calculate shipping for a 75 pound amp both ways, it starts to look pretty pricey. I’m thinking it gets close to the price of the BP2 I want, so, honestly, I think the BP2 is a better place to spend the money. I do have other amps, too many other amps. I will take the amp to another location at some point, but it’s just not convenient at this time. Also, I really don’t think that the input board is the problem, but when I questioned the Cary Tech about that, he inferred that the other, unspecified upgrades, would take care of that. I don’t feel good about the prospect of spending a grand to get the amp back with the same noise it left with.

Jamie
 
Yeah, that is a tough choice to make.  Shipping monster amps is very pricey.  Heck, I get a lot of inquiries about fixing Foreplay I/II preamps, and I always warn that the shipping costs will be more than the cost of the preamp.

If Cary said they have a fix for the noise you're getting, then I wouldn't worry too much about doing anything else on your end. 
 
PB, My gut feeling is that the noise is the result of a fundamental flaw in the design of the amp. It had this noise 5 years ago when I lived in another local where I had a confirmed positive earth ground. I think they have probably redesigned the amp to address this problem and now they are willing to upgrade my older version but they won't tell me exactly how they will accomplish this.  If I knew, with certainty, that they could correct the problem, if they gave more detail on the unspecified upgrades, I might consider sending it, but without something to base that certainty on, I just can't pull the trigger on that.I guess, for me anyway, when someone tells you they will replace something that doesn't seem to be a problem, and then they are going to do some other stuff, but they won't tell you what that stuff is, it doesn't inspire confidence.

Jamie

 
Test it somewhere with known good earthing. Someone elses modern house, anywhere. Yes you want it to work in your house but tick off this box first. Did You buy it new? You say it has been like it since new. If so it should have been sorted under warranty. I note that you have talked to them. They will add a $50 card for $450 plus.............
 
I bought this amp about 8 or 9 years ago. At that time, I thought the noise was due to my sources and that I would sort that out in time. Shortly after the purchase, I began preparations to move, so I boxed it for the move and all these years later, I pulled it out to re-evaluate it as a possible mate for a BP2. I thought the input impedance was a little low, but PB assures me that it will be OK, especially with the upgrades. So, yes, if I had, had more sense at the time, I would have pursued this then. I should have opened it up and pulled the inputs out of the channel boards at that time to diagnose it, but I just didn’t take the time to do it.This is the only big class AB amp I own and for some speakers you just need that power, so I would like to get that noise out. The cost of the upgrades isn’t so much the issue, but, as I mentioned before, the shipping will actually be much more, and the total cost is just not worth it to me at this point.I will try a few other things before I give up on it.

Jamie
 
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