Class D Amp Repairs

[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

Is there anyone out there that does Repairs on Class D amplifiers or are they just Paper weights when they blow?I know A/B and A amps can still be repaired fairly easily. Im just not too sure about the Class D with the boards used? Just Curious if anyone has had any repaired Class D amps and If so?? Where would be a good place to have one sent to be repaired/Reliable source? Thanks

Click to read more...

 

[Popwarhomie 5,000+ posts]

Shane Ekstrom
Steve at Amp Medics.
Mark Cannady

 

[Slo_Ride 5,000+ posts]

Personally I wouldn't bother. Mount it on the wall in the garage or something and buy a new one.

 

[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

Shane Ekstrom
Steve at Amp Medics.
Mark Cannady

Thanks man!!

 

[audiobaun 5,000+ posts]

Personally I wouldn't bother. Mount it on the wall in the garage or something and buy a new one.

I am kind of thinking the same due to how cheap amps have become, though I did not know of anyone repairing Class D amps yet?

 

[Slo_Ride 5,000+ posts]

I am kind of thinking the same due to how cheap amps have become, though I did not know of anyone repairing Class D amps yet?

I honestly couldn't tell you.

 

[Popwarhomie 5,000+ posts]

I am kind of thinking the same due to how cheap amps have become, though I did not know of anyone repairing Class D amps yet?

Class D amps have been being repaired for as long as I have been into car audio.

 

[Slo_Ride 5,000+ posts]

Class D amps have been being repaired for as long as I have been into car audio.

Theres literally dozens of threads here about the subject.

 

[Deiimos]

Yep repairing class D just takes a bit of understanding of the circuits, but most can be repaired no problems, class D car amps have been around for over 20 years at least now and have been repairable since day one. Any reputable amp repair place will repair class D and is likely the bread and butter for them, with perhaps a few exclusions on what they work on. The exceptions are the ones that MOSFETs have been discontinued on or other unusual components and finding a replacement that functions properly may be difficult to near impossible. This is mainly older amps 15-20+ years old when parts become obsolete and no longer made, just depends on the design. Can often substitute MOSFETs, but it takes time to do properly and sometimes not worth it unfortunately. Class D can be much more picky about parts than class AB.

I’ll say most amp problems are simply blown output or power supply transistors and a handful of associated parts, meaning you replace this and the amp is back 100% functional, fairly easy, usually. Class A, AB, B, or D, doesn’t make much difference if the repair guy knows what he’s doing.

However, there are those times an amp has deeper problems that are hard to find and it will blow up again on you. But that can happen with any class of amp. And of course if someone blew an amp up once, then sent it in for repair, good chance they are they are going to blow it up again when they get it back.

I think the better question is, is it worth it? Meaning brand / model plays a big role in repairing. If it’s a Rockville or VVME 1500.1 or Pyle, probably not worth the parts / labor unless you hobby DIY at home and just want to repair it. If it is a Sundown, Rockford, JL (insert any other decent brand here), then it is likely worth repairing, Class d or AB makes no difference.