Quick
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Counterpoint SA-12 repair or alternative?
commsysman
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Quick wrote:

My Counterpoint SA-12 may be in trouble... Fuse blew so I replace that. Powered up and (obviously) one of the caps did a slow burn -- massive amounts of smoke but it did not blow any fuses. I'm guessing they just dried up after all these years. I did have the tubes replaced about 10 years ago.

So... I either need to find someone that works on Counterpoints or start looking for a replacement. I was happy with the sound. Not overwhelmed but happy. I was thinking a PS Audio HCA-2 would be perfect but it seems they quit making those :).

I'm pretty much in the "poor mans" audiophile budget range.

Rega Planar II
Superphon Revelation II
Counterpoint SA-12 (currently deceased)
Dynaudio Contour 1.8 mk II's
Denon TU-600
Magnavox CDB650
Monster Power HTS3500
Nakamichi CR-7A (not used for many years)

Thanks for any suggestions.

I assume that you are talking about the four large power supply filter capacitors. Fixing it should not be terribly expensive if that is the only problem, and if you can do it for a couple of hundred bucks or so, why not?

They should be labelled with their capacitance and voltage rating. You can go to a slightly larger capacitance or voltage rating and that would be an improvement. I think that amp has room for slightly larger ones. Do not go smaller!

Measure their exact physical size and get new replacements for them that will fit.

Be sure to replace all of them.

PartsConnexion is very good for replacement parts. They may have info on your amp. PHONE 866-681-9602

On the other hand, I could sell you my Audire Forte amplifier, which is about the same vintage but puts out twice as much power (250 watts per channel at 4 ohms), is dual-mono, and sounds way better. It cost $1400 in the 1980s, and really is excellent; a far better amp than the SA-12. It would sell for $3000 or more today, if it were still made.

It also has both balanced and unbalanced inputs and has had Infinicaps, which is a sonic upgrade, installed in the input coupling stage. You will notice, if you look up the photos online, that it has 8 filter caps, each larger than a 12 ounce coke can. Its power supplies are humungous.

Since I bought my Musical Fidelity M6PRX I have retired the Audire and will let it go for $400 plus shipping. It has never required any repairs or maintenance in almost 20 years of use. The upgrade input capacitors cost me nearly $160. It is going to collect dust if I don't pass it on, and that would be a waste. I am basically giving it away.

If you do a search for Audire Forte, you will find info, reviews, and pictures. Send me a PM if interested.

Quick
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I am not new to forums... but I can't seem to find the button to PM?

Quick
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I have not been successful in my attempts to PM you...

Doesn't seem to be a PM facility on this forum.
I didn't have enough posts on AVS, AudioKharma, TAS, Audiogon, etc...
I do have accounts on facebook and twitter but I'm too old to know how to use them :)

How about this? I created a temporary email alias. Send me an email there and I'll reply from my permanent address.
Send me email at (remove all spaces): contact_me_commsysman @ fastmail . com

commsysman
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I think there is a way to do a PM but they don't make it readily accessible; they need to work on that.

Ditto on Facebook and all that crap; I want no part of them. I am either too old or just don't want to give up what is left of my privacy by getting into that nonsense.

Allen Fant
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I see no issue w/ posting your email if you want to receive a PM?
I do not use facebook nor twitter, either.

Allen Fant
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Quick-

I want to say that someone picked up where Mike Elliott left off, in that, offering repairs on Counterpoint gear. Check out the forums on Audiogon using the search function.

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Thanks, I will do that. I have an Audire Forte coming (should be here tomorrow :))! Thanks Commsysman. I will make an attempt to bring the Counterpoint back to life just because it seems a shame to let it die. I'll see if I can get it working again and then store it in the closet with my Leach amp.

commsysman
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Allen Fant wrote:

I see no issue w/ posting your email if you want to receive a PM?
I do not use facebook nor twitter, either.

I did post my email and he bought my Audire Forte amp, which is in transit.
I erased my email after he contacted me.

I have another Audire Forte amp for $400 if anyone is interested. It is a very fine dual-mono power amp that is rated for 250 WPC at 4 ohms, and 400 WPC at 2 ohms, and has balanced and unbalanced inputs.

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