Bought a 4 channel McGregor 150 Watt amplifier off ebay.
Opened the box and it looks very nice.
So powered it up and connected a source,
It is very distorted and volume goes up and down on its own where ever or which ever volume pot is set.
All the volume controls crackle when turned.
I did quick look online for circuit diagram but couldnt find one.
So I am returning it.
Why people "try" to sell their junk I dont know as ebay just force a return on them meaning they pay outbound and inbound postage.
It wasnt sold as spares or repair so it should have worked ok.
Its sellers like this that give ebay a bad name.
Opened the box and it looks very nice.
So powered it up and connected a source,
It is very distorted and volume goes up and down on its own where ever or which ever volume pot is set.
All the volume controls crackle when turned.
I did quick look online for circuit diagram but couldnt find one.
So I am returning it.
Why people "try" to sell their junk I dont know as ebay just force a return on them meaning they pay outbound and inbound postage.
It wasnt sold as spares or repair so it should have worked ok.
Its sellers like this that give ebay a bad name.
The number of times I read "just serviced."
What that means is "It was faulty, I have had it fixed but I want to get my money back before it breaks again!" 🙂
What that means is "It was faulty, I have had it fixed but I want to get my money back before it breaks again!" 🙂
eBay is a sad place both for buyers and for sellers these days. Especially for sellers.
Tom
Tom
Ebay is much better than the DIY Audio website for sellers. I haven't sold anything on the DIY Audio website, turn around and sold it on eBay. So maybe it's just that DIY Audio people are cheapskates?
Because people keep buying it. We all should know better after a myriad of horror stories.
Jan
The seller is hoping that the buyer will not test the purchase until after the return period,
and the comment period, are both over, and the buyer is stuck with it.
I looked up "mcgregor 150 watt amplifier" and couldnt find a thing. On the web, "mcgregor" only turns up musical instrument amplification and some Chinese outfit. On ebay, you have to put in your research, to see if what you're buying has a good rep, what its specs are and if there's a real chance you'll be happy with it.
I offer https://www.ebay.com/itm/144584525343 as something I'm considering purchasing. I got a multichannel miniDSP here for a very nice price and need "an amplifier" with multiple channels, in order to do something experimental with it. Seller claims "tested" and "pulled from working environment" which gives me some confidence. Sellers last (-) feedback was about cat hair found in a used pet carrier bag...
Pulled the specs off the web and reading through, the unit seems quite legit, as far as utility amplifiers go. OEM doesnt seem to be staffed with morons via the written language used and references cited in the corresponding documentation. More to add to the confidence constellation.
Still not ready to pull the trigger. Maybe I better before they're all gone!
IMHO, ebay offers some sweet material unobtanium elsewhere. I'd offer the Heathkit stereo 6GW8 p-p amplifier - unbuilt - that went for <$1k in the last few weeks - https://www.ebay.com/itm/165508349989. Where would you get that build experience these days?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/384970901287 - not too shabby. Looks at the beef in those OPTs! Another went for $400 less than this guys BIN price. Look at it - https://www.ebay.com/itm/195159736825 - mmm, Triad! If you happen to live in Florida, https://www.ebay.com/itm/363878272595 - guy says "make offer". https://www.ebay.com/itm/165543361890 - free ship, instead of $120...
Where would you get these things for <$1K? Audiogon?
I offer https://www.ebay.com/itm/144584525343 as something I'm considering purchasing. I got a multichannel miniDSP here for a very nice price and need "an amplifier" with multiple channels, in order to do something experimental with it. Seller claims "tested" and "pulled from working environment" which gives me some confidence. Sellers last (-) feedback was about cat hair found in a used pet carrier bag...
Pulled the specs off the web and reading through, the unit seems quite legit, as far as utility amplifiers go. OEM doesnt seem to be staffed with morons via the written language used and references cited in the corresponding documentation. More to add to the confidence constellation.
Still not ready to pull the trigger. Maybe I better before they're all gone!
IMHO, ebay offers some sweet material unobtanium elsewhere. I'd offer the Heathkit stereo 6GW8 p-p amplifier - unbuilt - that went for <$1k in the last few weeks - https://www.ebay.com/itm/165508349989. Where would you get that build experience these days?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/384970901287 - not too shabby. Looks at the beef in those OPTs! Another went for $400 less than this guys BIN price. Look at it - https://www.ebay.com/itm/195159736825 - mmm, Triad! If you happen to live in Florida, https://www.ebay.com/itm/363878272595 - guy says "make offer". https://www.ebay.com/itm/165543361890 - free ship, instead of $120...
Where would you get these things for <$1K? Audiogon?
The seller has refunded me and told me to keep it.
So had a look inside.
3 off BUZ900 and 3 off complement mosfets with no source resistors.
Power supply works fine with 63 volt rails.
Applied a sine wave and it oddly now comes out OK.
So must have disturbed something taking it apart.
The distortion has now gone and wildly changing volume has settled down.
I can get the amp part out ok but the front panel wont come as bits of wood at top and bottom of case stopping it.
Probably needs all the pot nuts taking off to release it from front panel.
Its working again so just going to leave it.
So had a look inside.
3 off BUZ900 and 3 off complement mosfets with no source resistors.
Power supply works fine with 63 volt rails.
Applied a sine wave and it oddly now comes out OK.
So must have disturbed something taking it apart.
The distortion has now gone and wildly changing volume has settled down.
I can get the amp part out ok but the front panel wont come as bits of wood at top and bottom of case stopping it.
Probably needs all the pot nuts taking off to release it from front panel.
Its working again so just going to leave it.
If it's working "again" I would guess it was working when the seller shipped it... You might want to send them some money 🙂
If its unreliable not much use to anyone. I certainly wouldn't gig with it.
It might stop working on the 100 miles journey back to seller !
I will probably get in touch with seller and give him option of getting it back.
It had a 1993 sticker inside it so its had a good long life !
It hums a bit so smoothing caps probably need replacing. I tried earthing input but no difference.
I found a 470uf 35v cap on the floor but couldn't see anything missing on amp pcb.
I read your postings and I for one have had very positive experiences posting and selling stuff on this site. I am thankful for those who have/are purchased items from me. I put extra effort into packing, communicating and shipping the stuff. Thanks to all who have trusted me and I will always do my best for you.
Dave
Dave
I've had good experiences trading here as well. I've had a couple of lab purges that resulted in quite a few boxes of components leaving and (some) money accumulating in my account in exchange.
Tom
Tom
I think a big difference between here and ebay is just the audience size.
Figure the number of people on this site that look at the classifieds within a given time frame and then calculate the odds that one of those people are looking for the exact item you are selling.
This leads to two different ways to sell the item. Either keep bumping the listing to the top every so often until the right person just happens by and sees the listing or price it so low that someone that didn't know they wanted one still buys it just because they can't resist. That makes the buyers look cheap; 25% off retail doesn't grab them because they aren't looking for that item but at half or more off they start thinking "maybe I should build one of those"
Figure the number of people on this site that look at the classifieds within a given time frame and then calculate the odds that one of those people are looking for the exact item you are selling.
This leads to two different ways to sell the item. Either keep bumping the listing to the top every so often until the right person just happens by and sees the listing or price it so low that someone that didn't know they wanted one still buys it just because they can't resist. That makes the buyers look cheap; 25% off retail doesn't grab them because they aren't looking for that item but at half or more off they start thinking "maybe I should build one of those"
It seems a quick refund and a 'keep it' on an item that was likely working when they tried it, is a very customer oriented solution. Not an attempt to steal or give ebay a bad name.
Sent a message to seller and he says he doesnt want it back.
He says he has another the same vintage and he is just going to recycle it.
He says he has another the same vintage and he is just going to recycle it.
He refunded me very quickly with no questions asked so I would have guessed he never tested it.
His retort should have been "it worked when it left me", but he didn't.
My "steal" comment was me being sarcastic !
Maybe a steal from me given it didnt work ?
I am running all vintage equipment, mainly Marantz. Friends of mine covet my stuff or similar to mine and I always strongly recommend against it because guess who will become the repairman. 60 year old equipment is very likely to have problems and it can be tricky to operate, not nearly as forgiving as new equipment. "Buyer Beware" definitely applies here.
When I buy something, I buy it on the basis of having "good bones" and that parts are available. I stay away from components that publicize "Very Rare" because so are parts and schematics and YouTube rebuild advice.
I just bought a Marantz 6300 turntable that, when tested at the sellers home, sounded great, I got it home and it had a massive hum. I had to replace the RCA cable and grounding with new, a very easy fix... for most of us. I buy mainly Marantz because, when done right, they are gorgeous but, parts are readily available and they definitely hold their value
When I buy something, I buy it on the basis of having "good bones" and that parts are available. I stay away from components that publicize "Very Rare" because so are parts and schematics and YouTube rebuild advice.
I just bought a Marantz 6300 turntable that, when tested at the sellers home, sounded great, I got it home and it had a massive hum. I had to replace the RCA cable and grounding with new, a very easy fix... for most of us. I buy mainly Marantz because, when done right, they are gorgeous but, parts are readily available and they definitely hold their value
This amp is 1993 according to sticker inside. Address is some farm in southern England.
Pots are scratchy.
Input jacks are a bit noisy.
Speaker out is a bit crackly and ropey.
Its done well really, 29 years old.
If I get bored I might replace all the pots and jack sockets and keep it for a living room amp.
This is the trouble with ebay. knowing if something is used lightly or an inch from dying from old age.
Pots are scratchy.
Input jacks are a bit noisy.
Speaker out is a bit crackly and ropey.
Its done well really, 29 years old.
If I get bored I might replace all the pots and jack sockets and keep it for a living room amp.
This is the trouble with ebay. knowing if something is used lightly or an inch from dying from old age.
As the original discussion has run its course this thread is now closed to further replies.
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