RobRoy
It's just stuff - but fun
I don't think so.
It was just a way of saying that if even one's "cheap stuff" has to be super high quality, then Pyle's probably not a brand one should be looking at.
It was just a way of saying that if even one's "cheap stuff" has to be super high quality, then Pyle's probably not a brand one should be looking at.
musichal
poet emeritus
Hope it hangs in there for you awhile. Nice to know you got it working; not everyone follows up with a report. Good on ya.
Hak Foo
Active Member
I don't think so.
I wonder if there's a business model in the "Mac Clinic" concept, as a direct service rather than a selling gimmick. I know there are some equipment rebuilders who will do a full analysis and spec of their wares when they sell it, but I would suspect there are plenty of amateur enthusiasts who would like to see how their equipment rates with test equipment they can't afford and don't know how to use properly. It might even be useful for filling out spec cards on equipment that has limited or inaccurate data (pre-FTC-regulation amplifiers, 4-ohm ratings for equipment only rated at eight)
Maybe sell tests in packs-- we'll rate your device before you start repairs, then send it back after you recap and replace the noisy transistors and we'll see how much it improves.
OMGCat!
Super Member
These days it's not exactly hard to do a decent rating on your amp. A $300 oscilloscope will have an FFT function and dummy loads are cheap. You really should have a scope to do audio repairs so it's not like it will go unused otherwise.
Sure you're not getting down to .001 distortion accuracy but you'll get into the quarter percent no problem. You could spend a little more for something like the Quantasylum 401 if you wanted more accuracy.
Sure you're not getting down to .001 distortion accuracy but you'll get into the quarter percent no problem. You could spend a little more for something like the Quantasylum 401 if you wanted more accuracy.
OMGCat!
Super Member
Yeah, for sure. I was more pointing toward people who do their own repairs. My scopes are old as well and don't have any FFT function so I bought the QA400 to do the measurements instead. I like digital scopes but a CRT trace is much nicer to look at IMO.
It would be cool if you could bring your amp in to a place to put it through it's paces to see what sort of shape you're looking at before putting it into service though there would definitely have to be a "we're not responsible for cremated outputs if your amp isn't up for a full power test" clause on the sign in sheet.
It would be cool if you could bring your amp in to a place to put it through it's paces to see what sort of shape you're looking at before putting it into service though there would definitely have to be a "we're not responsible for cremated outputs if your amp isn't up for a full power test" clause on the sign in sheet.
bfotk
bfotk
I'm back again with an update.
I had reason to contact Pyle support. The audible problem was a weak and eventually missing right channel. It seemed to come and go. I checked speaker connections and didn't come up with anything I could point to with any assurance.
I started out by going to their site and typing in a report which went out by email. After pushing "Send," I spotted a phone number on the screen I figured I might as well try that, too. Had an unrushed and cordial conversation with a person who was clearly interested in making things go right. He clarified how to get warranty service and admitted to not being a tech himself. Good enough.
In contrast, when the email reply came, it started out fairly lame but that's to be expected:
Please try to switch the speaker or swap it by putting the left speaker to right and check if that is working.
I replied that I'd done so and the next email advised:
Try to splice an inch on the speaker wires and connect it again to the unit. [Yikes!] Please provide us also the specs (watts and ohms) of the speaker that you're using so we can check the compatibility of both devices.
I didn't do the splice but I did send back the full B&W LM1 specs which included B&W's Max RMS input rating of 100w. I got back this: It seems like you're putting too much power to the unit. This unit is capable of handling 90 watts max and upon checking on the speaker specs you have 100 watts each speaker.If you are using 2 speakers it means that it is an equivalent of 200 watts. Please use other speaker let say 90 watts max at 4 to 8 ohms.
He seemed to have overlooked the B&W 25 watt Recommended Amplifier Power and clearly had little understanding of which device delivers power to the other.
Oh my.
I'm still basically pleased with the PFA330BT.
I had reason to contact Pyle support. The audible problem was a weak and eventually missing right channel. It seemed to come and go. I checked speaker connections and didn't come up with anything I could point to with any assurance.
I started out by going to their site and typing in a report which went out by email. After pushing "Send," I spotted a phone number on the screen I figured I might as well try that, too. Had an unrushed and cordial conversation with a person who was clearly interested in making things go right. He clarified how to get warranty service and admitted to not being a tech himself. Good enough.
In contrast, when the email reply came, it started out fairly lame but that's to be expected:
Please try to switch the speaker or swap it by putting the left speaker to right and check if that is working.
I replied that I'd done so and the next email advised:
Try to splice an inch on the speaker wires and connect it again to the unit. [Yikes!] Please provide us also the specs (watts and ohms) of the speaker that you're using so we can check the compatibility of both devices.
I didn't do the splice but I did send back the full B&W LM1 specs which included B&W's Max RMS input rating of 100w. I got back this: It seems like you're putting too much power to the unit. This unit is capable of handling 90 watts max and upon checking on the speaker specs you have 100 watts each speaker.If you are using 2 speakers it means that it is an equivalent of 200 watts. Please use other speaker let say 90 watts max at 4 to 8 ohms.
He seemed to have overlooked the B&W 25 watt Recommended Amplifier Power and clearly had little understanding of which device delivers power to the other.
Oh my.
I'm still basically pleased with the PFA330BT.
That's hilarious! He was probably in Bangalore.
I was going to say that I have a little Pyle amp I got at a garage sale, about 6" square by 2" tall, 40wx2, metal case, fairly substantial little unit. I like it just fine. Used it at Halloween with a mike to power a vintage outdoor horn for our MASH Halloween at the office.
Might be a PCA or PCM, maybe the older version of what you're using, w/o the Bluetooth. Seems to be pretty solid. Looks a lot like this:
I was going to say that I have a little Pyle amp I got at a garage sale, about 6" square by 2" tall, 40wx2, metal case, fairly substantial little unit. I like it just fine. Used it at Halloween with a mike to power a vintage outdoor horn for our MASH Halloween at the office.
Might be a PCA or PCM, maybe the older version of what you're using, w/o the Bluetooth. Seems to be pretty solid. Looks a lot like this:
mhardy6647
Lunatic Member
DSC_3113 by Mark Hardy, on Flickr
Took me a minute to figure out what I was looking at here mhardy...horn driver on a horn! 500W power handling capacity??!? Are we listening to music or stripping paint? 
Seriously though, does it sound good?
Seriously though, does it sound good?
mhardy6647
Lunatic Member
well, it didn't help that the horn it was mounted on was an Altec 511B.Took me a minute to figure out what I was looking at here mhardy...horn driver on a horn! 500W power handling capacity??!? Are we listening to music or stripping paint?
Seriously though, does it sound good?
It didn't sound as horrible as one might think.
I am actually trying to work up the gumption to try those ahem Pyle drivers
on a more modern horn that's apparently better suited to the shallow throat design of modern drivers.http://jelabs.blogspot.com/2018/08/parts-express-1-horn-buy-out-specials.html
They're the only modern drivers I own.
