What a nightmare story, hogarthd. I really hope you get your unit fixed. This all goes to prove the points of the risks we take as consumers of high end products that the manufacturer will still be around when the need for a repair arises and also that it is hard to find a good, competent service technician. I am the owner of many McIntosh units, and in 38 years of ownership have found one, just one, good service technician in southern California. I have sent two tuners to the factory for service and they did a great job. Also, I sent another tuner to Audio Classics, who also did a great job. But locally, with the one exception it has been hard to find good help.