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Esoteric A100 Service Nightmare

My Esoteric A100 which has been stuck in a safety circuit mode after an electrical surge.  I have contacted the Esoteric Service department and the unit was shipped to TAP electronics in Buena Park CA.  I was contacted by the service department that the A100s cannot be serviced in the US and must be shipped to Japan due to a required tool that is only available in Japan.  What???  I was quoted a shipping charge in the thousands $ and that there is no guarantee that the unit is even salvageable.  The interaction with TAP electronics was a nightmare but its not relevant here.   A100 has essentially become an expensive paper weight.  I am disappointed and puzzled by the lack of adequate service support for a unit that sold for over $18,000.  Any thoughts or recommendation on addressing this unit?  I am ready to consider the unit dead and move on.  This is unfortunately a last resort plea before I drop this unit to recycling.


Regards

Frank

kimf70
kimf70 OP
6 posts
 

@Jay23, The unit is not under warranty.  I did speak to Scott.  He was empathetic but unable to offer more assistance.  I am ready to move on and in the market for an AMP from a different manufacturer.  The Esoteric was part of my system at a second home.  I will be spending more time there and would like to get it up and running again.  I will definitely purchase from a US company this time.  I am looking into McIntosh which I have not considered in the past and Audio Research.  Hopefully will have better support from them.

Frank

d2girls's avatar
d2girls
641 posts
 
By the way my first post in this thread was supposed to be ironic

I find it highly amusing for someone to immediately claim they will never purchase a product based on something they read on an audiogon forum thread 

I just felt the need to explain myself since I assume the joke went over everyone’s head 
elizabeth
6,726 posts
 
d2girls sez': " Never going to purchase esoteric gear based on this thread. "                   
Exactly how would anyone not your Mother, or married to you.. know that was ironic?  
There is a rule on audio site. NO ONE understands a joke, sarcasm, or irony. Ever. Well, maybe 3 people might get it.. But the other 382,605 will think you are serious. Every audio site I know, no one gets subtle jokes. The have to be: WARNING>>> HA HA JOKE: xxx.xxx.xxxxx! Joke over, back to the real world....  for the folks to know. Maybe it is so many English as second language? or just audiophiles have no sense of irony? Or they are trying to read it on their smartphone while driving in rush hour traffic.. Any which way...  every word is set in stone..
jafant's avatar
jafant
10,525 posts
 
kimf70

Thank You for the update.  There are plenty of excellent amp(s) out there for your consideration.  Keep us posted on your next purchase decision.
mikld
54 posts
 
This thread is giving me PTSD, you mentioned looking at Audio Research...  I had a poor experience with Audio Research and their HD-220 amp (bought used from my local dealer $5k), the amp was problematic from the start, had to be sent back multiple times for service over a few years until they finally said that its irreparable and they tried to SELL me some replacement monoblock DS450M amps, for $4k.  I didn't accept and am stuck with the HD-220 paperweight, hoping to make something of it eventually.  If you look around you'll see HD-220's and DS450M (for $4k).  If you're looking to avoid this situation, I would not recommend dealing with AR.  Or
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