As mentioned before I've decided to upgrade my 250 to 250 Pro. I delivered my 250 at a UPS AccessPoint on Monday 31st of October and yesterday it was returned to my home by UPS. Finally, as I was missing it sorely!! 
After unpacking and admiring its gained weight because of the solid copper back plate I hooked it up back in the system and switched it on...nothing happened! Aaaarrrrgh..a DOA!? Please don't do this to me!!!
Unplugged the power from the P3 PowerPlant and used a direct to wall connection, still nothing. Disconnected all cables, power on, still nothing! 
I checked on the P3 if it used any power when I connected it and hmm yes, some 12 to 20W initially and then dropping to around 3W. OK so it's no broken fuses. Was it too cold? Condensation problems? Nehhh can't be it, not even the red LED light lit up at the back...
You can imagine my huge dissappointment and anger at this time but I figured there was nothing I could do so I decided to call Devialet. After waiting for a while in the caller queue I got the answering machine. Damn. What to do. I picked it up inspected it and shook it a bit and then I noticed a rattle! Did something get loose in transport?
I decided to open it using the supplied torx tool (which of course is for the remote but it fit the torx screws on the back as well) and looked insight. At first sight everything looked OK. I looked at the add on boards and they seemed to be seated firmly. I picked it up and tilted it and then I noticed that a small board with 10 black components (inductors or whatever) was loose on one side. This board is soldered to the mainboard with four 2cm wide solder points. Hmmm...what to do, shall I fix it myself or send it back to Devialet I thought. Since I really did NOT want to sent it back, wait for them to repair it and sent it back to me again I decided to carefully try and do it myself. I've soldered many times and it wasn't SMD soldering so I should manage.
And so I went ahead, I used my WBT silver solder (probably of a higher quality then what Devialet uses) and for a normal soldering job I actually used a bit too much to get the solder below the board to also melt. When that happened I was able to push the little board flat to the mainboard pushing out the excess solder. I decided to also redo the side of the board which was still connected as I figured it would probably have microcracks because of the movement of the board. After that: job done so I connected a power cable and then I was greeted by many different red LED lights on the mainboard and I saw the D booting. Yes!!
While I was refitting the back plate Devialet called me back. I didn't leave a message but they seem to log the called ID's of people who called and reached the answering machine and call these people back when agents are available again (very professional). I explained the whole story and received a lot of understanding. They would never hold me opening the device trying to fix it myself against me and I asked if she would make a note logging this which she did.
But since I was still closing the case I hadn't tested it yet, did it actually work? After reconnecting all cables and instructing Roon to play a tune: music, yes!! Phewwwww....
Next post: my first listening impressions.
This is the little board that was loose (you can actually see the excess solder on the left):
Picture of the full inside. You can see the board middle below.
After unpacking and admiring its gained weight because of the solid copper back plate I hooked it up back in the system and switched it on...nothing happened! Aaaarrrrgh..a DOA!? Please don't do this to me!!!
Unplugged the power from the P3 PowerPlant and used a direct to wall connection, still nothing. Disconnected all cables, power on, still nothing! I checked on the P3 if it used any power when I connected it and hmm yes, some 12 to 20W initially and then dropping to around 3W. OK so it's no broken fuses. Was it too cold? Condensation problems? Nehhh can't be it, not even the red LED light lit up at the back...You can imagine my huge dissappointment and anger at this time but I figured there was nothing I could do so I decided to call Devialet. After waiting for a while in the caller queue I got the answering machine. Damn. What to do. I picked it up inspected it and shook it a bit and then I noticed a rattle! Did something get loose in transport?
I decided to open it using the supplied torx tool (which of course is for the remote but it fit the torx screws on the back as well) and looked insight. At first sight everything looked OK. I looked at the add on boards and they seemed to be seated firmly. I picked it up and tilted it and then I noticed that a small board with 10 black components (inductors or whatever) was loose on one side. This board is soldered to the mainboard with four 2cm wide solder points. Hmmm...what to do, shall I fix it myself or send it back to Devialet I thought. Since I really did NOT want to sent it back, wait for them to repair it and sent it back to me again I decided to carefully try and do it myself. I've soldered many times and it wasn't SMD soldering so I should manage.
And so I went ahead, I used my WBT silver solder (probably of a higher quality then what Devialet uses) and for a normal soldering job I actually used a bit too much to get the solder below the board to also melt. When that happened I was able to push the little board flat to the mainboard pushing out the excess solder. I decided to also redo the side of the board which was still connected as I figured it would probably have microcracks because of the movement of the board. After that: job done so I connected a power cable and then I was greeted by many different red LED lights on the mainboard and I saw the D booting. Yes!!
While I was refitting the back plate Devialet called me back. I didn't leave a message but they seem to log the called ID's of people who called and reached the answering machine and call these people back when agents are available again (very professional). I explained the whole story and received a lot of understanding. They would never hold me opening the device trying to fix it myself against me and I asked if she would make a note logging this which she did.
But since I was still closing the case I hadn't tested it yet, did it actually work? After reconnecting all cables and instructing Roon to play a tune: music, yes!! Phewwwww....
Next post: my first listening impressions.
This is the little board that was loose (you can actually see the excess solder on the left):
Picture of the full inside. You can see the board middle below.
PS Audio P3, Shunyata ΞTRON Alpha Digital and HC/Furutech power cables, Paul Hynes SR7EHD-MR4, DIY Roon Server & Roon Endpoint running AudioLinux Headless, Phasure Lush^2 USB cable, Audioquest Diamond RJ/E ethernet, Uptone Audio etherREGEN, Mutec MC-3+ USB, Shunyata ΞTRON Anaconda Digital XLR AES/EBU, Devialet Expert 250 Pro CI, Nordost Tyr Reference LS cables, Von Schweikert VR-5 SE Anniversary Edition, Anti-Mode Dual Core 2.0, JL Audio Fathom F112. More detail here.
The Netherlands
The Netherlands
