I visited Zed's site for the first time and found on the service page :
The brands we choose not to repair are Memphis, MATTS and USAmps.
Anyone know why? Im just curious. I have much respect for these guys as some of the best amp designers out there so this kinda got me as own several Usamps and thankfully none of them have ever given me an issue. I have always looked at MATTS as being good quality amps, I dont have much experience with Memphis other then I used to see a lot of there 4k monsters getting sold on ebay for parts or repair.
The brands we choose not to repair are Memphis, MATTS and USAmps.
Anyone know why? Im just curious. I have much respect for these guys as some of the best amp designers out there so this kinda got me as own several Usamps and thankfully none of them have ever given me an issue. I have always looked at MATTS as being good quality amps, I dont have much experience with Memphis other then I used to see a lot of there 4k monsters getting sold on ebay for parts or repair.
Zed can answer for sure, but here is my reason not exactly Zeds.
Matts tend to fry transformers sometimes intermittently and tough to remove/fix/replace. Also troubleshooting these amps means a hip4080 is going to punch holes in your pockets.
Us amps tend to use fat transistors that when assembled are twisted slightly into the circuit boards, which IMO tend to be fragile after a burn down. The twisted then soldered legs of the transistors make disassembly very tough on the boards/vias. Said transistors are not really designed for audio circuits as I believe they’re more for motor control ie heavy equipment.
Not sure why no Memphis.
Matts tend to fry transformers sometimes intermittently and tough to remove/fix/replace. Also troubleshooting these amps means a hip4080 is going to punch holes in your pockets.
Us amps tend to use fat transistors that when assembled are twisted slightly into the circuit boards, which IMO tend to be fragile after a burn down. The twisted then soldered legs of the transistors make disassembly very tough on the boards/vias. Said transistors are not really designed for audio circuits as I believe they’re more for motor control ie heavy equipment.
Not sure why no Memphis.
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I agree with their opinion on US Amps. Their physical designs made me want to avoid them at all costs.
The MMATS amps were OK but we had a problem in my service area. The word got around that they HAD to be run at 1/2 ohm or lower. I stopped taking them in since word on the street appeared to be more trustworthy than mine.
I didn't mind the smaller Memphis amps. The 4k were a lot of trouble but I didn't turn them away unless there was board damage (burned) in the output area. Some were 3 layer so if inner traces burned, it made them difficult to repair.
The MMATS amps were OK but we had a problem in my service area. The word got around that they HAD to be run at 1/2 ohm or lower. I stopped taking them in since word on the street appeared to be more trustworthy than mine.
I didn't mind the smaller Memphis amps. The 4k were a lot of trouble but I didn't turn them away unless there was board damage (burned) in the output area. Some were 3 layer so if inner traces burned, it made them difficult to repair.