EV ELX12 P

This is where we talk about testing, measuring and repairing things. Sometimes we have to repair the equipment we use to test, measure and repair other things. It's an endless cycle of fixing the broken things we need to fix other broken things.
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Tubetec
Posts: 340
Joined: Sun Sep 08, 2024 7:08 pm

EV ELX12 P

Post by Tubetec »

I had someone drop me one of the above for repair ,
https://youtu.be/XqIUkr7JuDM
exact same fault as this guy ,
I found the complete replacement module at a place in the UK for 335 pounds ,
that translates into almost 400 Euros , then add the extra shipping cost too Ireland , then another 25% in import duty/customs charges because of Brexit ,
its not going to cost less than 500 euros in parts to put it right , before Ive even added a charge for the work .
The owner of the unit in the video managed to find the replacement PCB board from Bosch for 200 pounds , fitted it and it overheats within 5 minutes ,
He also manged to damage the DSP board ,so that cost him an extra 80 pounds on top .

A brand new ZLX 12P G2 from Thomann is 633 euros , then the customer has two different models of speaker. what can I concievably charge for fitting a new module, maybe 50 euros max , then if it goes wrong again Im in the frame for the replacement parts personally .
so its as simple as this , I have to let the customer know repair just isnt viable or economical ,
There is no service documentation available , EV go fuck yourselves... Assholes .
emrr
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Joined: Sun Mar 02, 2008 10:27 pm
Location: NC, USA
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Re: EV ELX12 P

Post by emrr »

So many items like this unfortunately. Never a good feeling to be partway down that voyage of discovery.
Best,

Doug Williams
Electromagnetic Radiation Recorders
Tubetec
Posts: 340
Joined: Sun Sep 08, 2024 7:08 pm

Re: EV ELX12 P

Post by Tubetec »

Cheers Doug ,
Ive had many of my finest moments as live sound eng. with EV gear ,
The Eliminator series is at least 30 something years old by now , but with decent amps, speaker management and a half way decent analog mixer it still beats the pants off many of these modern class D powered and digital mixer setups .
Shit nowadays is designed down to a price point , long term reliabillity and servicabilliy isnt a factor anymore ,

I spoke to the owner and reccomended he keeps the old unit for spare parts and spends the extra cash(500 + for repair VS 630 euros new ) on a ELX12P G2, Im simply not willing to take the risk of a fail for the nominal charge I can make for swapping out a module, which takes around 5 minutes of my time to install and test ,
The service tech has been phased out by chip shooting robots away off somewhere in the PRC , :oops:
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mediatechnology
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Location: Oak Cliff, Texas
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Re: EV ELX12 P

Post by mediatechnology »

Never been a big fan of powered speakers due to internal amp serviceability.

If I were still doing service work I would turn this one down too.
Speaking of which I just threw out my old Platt tool bag.
I probably put 50,000 miles on that thing.
The leather has dried out and its very worn.
I don't miss the travel at all.
Tubetec
Posts: 340
Joined: Sun Sep 08, 2024 7:08 pm

Re: EV ELX12 P

Post by Tubetec »

In the end I swapped out the preamp pcb from the broken speaker , replacing the one in the other working speaker which had a damaged xlr input .
The customer had already moved over to a pair of Mackies , so planned on moving on the EV's anyway.
I wrote out a description of the damaged unit so he can sell it for spares or repair .
I asked for 30 euros for the swap ,but the guy put a 50 in my hand and said buy yourself a few pints .

In the last couple of months two other local audio electronic repair guys packed it in and closed their opperation down , leaving a huge gap in the market , but so much modern gear isnt worth the time, effort and cost repairing anymore .

I always liked visiting new places ,but in more recent years I grew to very much hate airports so I tend to stay much closer to home .
Even trips to the capitol city ,Dublin , 165 miles away, is something I avoid like the plague , its as rough as the badgers proverbials .
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