[Please note:- I have next to no tech knowledge or skills whatsoever. I do have a soldering iron however.]
My experience 2 (300b) Traf has died in one channel. Which annoys me as it was brought brand new in June 2012 and had very light usage since; maybe 6 months total - I prefer to use cooler-running ss amps for long periods.
Started out as occasional intermittent grumbling / noise in the Right channel about an hour in (which made me wonder if it might be heating related) - but which would go away after 30 seconds or so and all would be well.
Not a tube issue - have swapped L-to-right ad infinitum and always the Right channel.
Put it away for months (a 'to-do' task), but dragged it out recently to have a closer look. Took the bottom cover off for a gander - could see nothing at first. Then - when I had a closer look found what may - or may not - be the problem;
see pic.
A red wire (R channel) is soldered to a plug on the PCB which is hard up against the side of a 180uF capacitor - in fact, the wire was (as best I can see) just touching the cap & and there is a small spot of burning evident on the wall of the cap - and the red wire shows some black smears. The cap doesn't appear to be damaged - just a burn hole in the paintwork. I think. No apparent leakage of electrolyte.
Not sure what the wire is but it disappears into the hole under the RH output transformer. I've also noted that the PCB connection of its problem-free LH channel equivalent is not nearly so cramped.
I personally don't consider this design is consistent with (supposedly) quality product or workmanship.
Anyway, I have since bent the solder lug away from the cap and re-soldered to give the connection some room. Also put some insulating tape on the cap wall as added protection.
For a day, the Traf them seemed to work fine - but tonight the R channel has once again departed. Problem has now progressed to very faint R channel and/or occasional drop-outs - & now is more or less dead all the time.
Emailed the agent I bought it from 2 weeks ago - no response.
Wondered if any other Traf Experience II owners had come across this 'issue' (surely I'm not Robinson Crusoe...) and / or if there might be any suggestions forthcoming.
I would prefer not to have to send it to the mainland for repairs if possible.
