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-   -   No Repair or Tech Support for Older Classé Products! (https://www.audioaficionado.org/showthread.php?t=42766)

Crumhorn 04-18-2018 06:28 PM

No Repair or Tech Support for Older Classé Products!
 
I own a pair of Classé M-700 monoblock amps. When I purchased them many years ago, they came with a "Lifetime Warranty."

Recently, both of them failed, which I attribute to aging electrolytic caps in the power supply.

When I contacted Classé to arrange for repair, I received the following response:

"Thank you for calling in about your M-700 amplifiers. As you noted in your voicemail, there has been significant changes to Classé operations in the past few months, which include moving all service and support from Montreal to Boston, closing the Classé building in Cananda, and just now within the past couple weeks Classé has been acquired by United Radio.

During the transfer from the Montreal repair facility to the Boston facility attempts were made to bring down as many parts as we could for repairs. However there were certain parts we could not collect, mainly for pre Delta 2 series or legacy unit including the M-700. As a result we can only recommend contacting a reputable nearby audio electronics repair shop to ask if they can diagnose and possibly repair the unit.

We realize that this is not a favorable suggestion, but at this time it is the only one I can provide.

I apologize for this inconvenience. Please let me know if you have any questions.

Kind Regards,

Ken Bunker | Technical Support
Bowers & Wilkins - North America"

Needless to say, I am not a happy camper... :(

Does anyone have a recommendation for a NYC repair service?



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jdandy 04-18-2018 06:52 PM

Crumhorn.......The M-700's are not going to magically come back to life on their own, and it is clear B&W is not interested in attempting to provide service. I suggest you do as Ken Bunker suggested, find a reputable nearby audio electronics repair shop and get you amplifiers fixed.

Kal Rubinson 04-18-2018 07:26 PM

I suggest you try the re-animated Classe group, now owned by Sound United and run by the original top management. (N.B.: This is not United Radio.)

PM me if you need help.

Crumhorn 04-18-2018 11:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jdandy (Post 911853)
Crumhorn.......The M-700's are not going to magically come back to life on their own, and it is clear B&W is not interested in attempting to provide service. I suggest you do as Ken Bunker suggested, find a reputable nearby audio electronics repair shop and get you amplifiers fixed.

That's why the last line of my post read: "Does anyone have a recommendation for a NYC repair service?" :)

Crumhorn 04-18-2018 11:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kal Rubinson (Post 911854)
I suggest you try the re-animated Classe group, now owned by Sound United and run by the original top management. (N.B.: This is not United Radio.)

PM me if you need help.

The message from B&W that I quoted above was in response to the "Customer Repair Request Form" I submitted through the Sound United website! When I tried calling Sound United, they refused to connect me to anyone, insisting I use that form.

So they certainly seem to have written their older products and customers off.

Once the company changed ownership, I expected that they might not honor the lifetime warranty, and that I would need to pay for the repairs, and I was OK with that. But to be given the total brush-off? That's a whole different kettle of fish. I can guarantee that Classé has seen the last of me as a customer. And it should give anyone considering a purchase of their products serious cause for concern...

Thanks for your kind offer of assistance! Since my original post, a former Classé dealer in NY recommended a local repair shop, but it was too late to call them today. If they can't do the work, I'll be in touch.

jdandy 04-19-2018 12:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crumhorn (Post 911883)
That's why the last line of my post read: "Does anyone have a recommendation for a NYC repair service?" :)

Crumhorn.......Sorry, I missed that last line. I got stuck at "Needless to say, I am not a happy camper... :( "

I would not be a happy camper either with the cold shoulder you have received.

Macuser 04-19-2018 02:57 AM

Wow I'm sorry to hear that; So much for the "lifetime warranty" which was surely factored in to the original purchase price.
Makes note to self; avoid Classe products

FreddieFerric 04-19-2018 08:12 AM

So, who's in charge of this company now. Sound United or United Radio?

Kal says it's the former. Have you reached out to them yet?

http://soundunited.com/

Their site lists Classe' as one of their brands.

Good luck and keep us informed.

Kal Rubinson 04-19-2018 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Crumhorn (Post 911885)
The message from B&W that I quoted above was in response to the "Customer Repair Request Form" I submitted through the Sound United website! When I tried calling Sound United, they refused to connect me to anyone, insisting I use that form.

We can bypass all that.

GSOphile 04-19-2018 09:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FreddieFerric (Post 911897)
So, who's in charge of this company now. Sound United or United Radio?

Kal says it's the former. Have you reached out to them yet?

http://soundunited.com/

Their site lists Classe' as one of their brands.

Good luck and keep us informed.

See post #15 above.


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