PS Audio Trio C-100 repair question

Audio Components Amplifiers
1

Hello everyone, I am looking for a little bit of help.

I own a PS Audio Trio C-100 amplifier that very recently decided to stop making sound in the left channel. This particular Trio was modded in the past by someone named Rick Cullen.

I was gifted this amplifier about 12 years ago by a very good friend and I am a bit sentimental about it. It was the first high end amplifer I ever owned and was the first step in building my current system.

I contacted PS audio support about a repair (noting that it had previously been modified to make sure they were aware of that) and they replied that they no longer service these units due to the age since parts are unavailable, even if it were unmodded. I totally get it.

My question is, does anyone have any idea or leads on who may be able to repair this amplifer for me? I am located in the Washington DC area but I am willing to pack and ship if necessary.

Omar

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with Respect, and I am sorry but:

Base on many vintage gear, I have asked to repair and even if I had a good technician for repair, we search for new parts after 20, 30, 60 years, it always sound different after repair!

When it is gone, it is gone.

After 10 years of markets life, parts are gone, sometimes you could be lucky and find some NOS parts, or you could buy a second one used, to withdraw the parts you need, but it will be pricey and will probably don`t do long before it broke again!

My recommandation, If you are not a collector :face_with_monocle: : Invest in new stuff, repair, is something very peculiar and always end up, changing the sound. It will never be the same.

Stack you money, and buy new generation, always better choice. or buy a used one that is still for sale by manufacturer or supported!

rule of thumb, when buying used, check market, if to many available, probably not a good choice.

For myself, now, I only buy unit that are unmodified and mint condition and on the market!

And you have the two condition to run away from it: It broken and modified, so it`s a no go.

The only old unit, I intend to keep and plug every 3 months to listen to it for a week to keep capacitor charged:

it`s the old Quad [33, 303, FM3], the widow of my best friend gave me. We used to listen Saturdays night [with a stout] and played at his wedding reception!

this one has sentimental value, that I could not part, but some day it will broke. I purchase a refurbish preamp and compare both side by side a the refurbish is dull, no life, sound like garbage! [that`s the only one I had take, :scream: all the rest his widow, throw it to dumpster, so value is very relative]

but I let others make you recommandation!

Post Scriptum Audio:

Well, I had a 1980 humming PS preamp with everything and gave it to PS for there museum :smiling_face_with_sunglasses: , beautiful sound, but when connected to digital, it hum, no matter what. it wasn’t make for modern technologie!

pps 2, If you are a technician, well, your are repairing dream, not unit, fill your pocket till you can`t

1 Like
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ohart, I can’t offer you much hope, but Rick Cullen used to be a subcontractor (and friend) to PS Audio. Rick’s company was Cullen Circuits located in, I think, Paso Robles, CA. Not sure if he is still around, but I’m pretty sure Cullen Circuits is out of business. His son Patrick is involved in audio, in the form of Cullen Cables, see here. You could try contacting him to see if they still have parts or can direct you to someone who does. Good luck!