{"id":24109,"date":"2023-01-30T10:57:17","date_gmt":"2023-01-30T09:57:17","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.classical-music.com\/?p=177613"},"modified":"2023-01-30T12:33:53","modified_gmt":"2023-01-30T11:33:53","slug":"hi-fi-repair-what-to-do-when-your-hi-fi-needs-repairing","status":"publish","type":"rss_feed","link":"https:\/\/c01.purpledshub.com\/bbcmusicmagazine\/rss_feed\/hi-fi-repair-what-to-do-when-your-hi-fi-needs-repairing\/","title":{"rendered":"Hi-fi repair: What to do when your hi-fi needs repairing"},"content":{"rendered":"

Chris Haslam takes a look at your options if your hi-fi stops working <\/p>

By Chris Haslam\n \t\t<\/p>

Published: Monday, 30 January 2023 at 12:00 am<\/p>

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It<\/span>\u2019s fair to say that most of us like the idea of buying new hi-fi. But what happens when things go wrong? Can you get today\u2019s audio equipment repaired, or is it all destined for landfill?\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n

How to get a hi-fi repaired<\/h2>\n

One of the inherent benefits of high-end audio is that much of it is hand built and engineered to last for decades. Not only do quality components sound incredible, but most reputable companies accommodate servicing, repairs and even upgrades.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Naim Audio, for instance, has a service centre in Salisbury \u2013 I\u2019ve heard tales of one discontinued 30-year-old amplifier having replacement volume controls 3D printed there. Similarly, NAD has the philosophy that if 80 per cent of a product is still relevant and operating, then it makes perfect sense to replace only the 20 per cent that has become obsolete.<\/span><\/p>\n

Owners of McIntosh audio components can get parts for equipment dating back to the 1960s, and repairs for even older designs are possible in their New York centre. In the UK, Chord Electronics have designed all their products to be serviceable. \u2018Even though our components rarely go wrong, they\u2019re largely available and not too complicated to replace,\u2019 says production technician Tom Vaughan.<\/span><\/p>\n

But it\u2019s not just high-end brands that are repairable. Most audio gear has a one- or two-year warranty, and even outside this period it\u2019s worth asking about repairs. Sennheiser, Audio Technica and Bose all have service centres, for example, and are happy to quote for repairs, even on their cheapest products.<\/span><\/p>\n

A quick Yell.com<\/a><\/strong> search will bring up independent hi-fi repair centres in your area. My local repair centre, Armstrong Audio in Walthamstow, East London, has been repairing all manner of audio equipment for 40 years. <\/span><\/p>\n

And if it\u2019s a turntable<\/a> <\/strong>in need of TLC, you\u2019ll not find better than Doug Brady HiFi, who have been restoring record players since 1960. Nationwide retailer Richer Sounds<\/a><\/strong> also has a team of engineers, and will assess, repair or service any product purchased from them, with prices starting from just \u00a320 for speaker diagnosis.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

How to dispose of hi-fi equipment<\/h3>\n

And if it simply can\u2019t be saved, there may still be consolation. Under the terms of the Waste Electrical and Electronic Equipment directive (WEEE)<\/a><\/strong>, all retailers must provide a disposal service for their old electronics. Check with your retailer for details \u2013 Sonos, for instance, offers a 30 per cent discount on new products when you send them back your old speakers.\u00a0<\/span><\/span><\/p>\n

Brands and products worth considering<\/h2>\n

Beosound Level <\/span><\/h3>\n