BIG problems with new Theta Casablanca 2

No unit, no loaner, no money. My dealer was from out of town.


David


David


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DES

A question to some of the responders concerning this issue...and asked for my own ignorance...and not to get the original poster worried about issues that I have no knowledge.


If the unit got as hot as the owner states...could that heat have caused any damage?...and does this unit usually get very warm? If on comparing two amps from two manufacturers that are equal performance-wise all down the line...could one say that the cooler running unit will have a longer lifespan than the hot unit?


Just for my info...not attempting to say anything towards any particular manufacturer.


Michael

David, come on over to the Audio Video Improvement and Special Guest forum, that I moderate, here at AV Science, and do a search for Casablanca, and you'll get my thread last month about my upgrade. The upgrade from hell. Started out just like yours, it wouldn't turn on. Finally, back to Theta, and a few weeks later, came back working fine. Fine for now on I think five weeks at least. And I luv it. The techs will build yours from ground up and you will be satisfied. But meanwhile, its a royal pain in the rump. I got lucky, as Mary Cardas of Theta had done a demo at Esoteric Audio in Scottsdale, she left her Casablanca 2 there for awhile, and I was able to borrow it, so instead of being down 5-6 weeks, I was only down 2-3 weeks.


The Casablanca 2 is PHENOMENAL! But indeed they do seem sometimes to have problems with the upgrade, but they did end up getting it right on for me!


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Steve Bruzonsky

David,

you should raise these issues with the dealer and if possible then Theta because these are expensive toys and you paid your money for a benefit- now. Problems are part of life and they diserve the chance to remedy the situation, however, they should cover you either by giving your money back so you can get the interest on it while they work on the product (unless its like a 1 week thing, which I would doubt) or they should provide some kind of loaner. Ive delt with good and bad dealers for a variety of products and the one thing I find that seperates them is that the good dealers are there to provide you with solutions; the bad ones simply take your dough and then drop you.


- Jerry

I agree with Buzz- but let me add this- while you dont have the use of the CB2 are you still out the money? I think if its gonna be a couple of weeks you should either have a loaner unit or your money back until its ready. Otherwise youre paying more than you paid.


- Jerry

It is very discouraging to hear about a fellow HTer having any kind of problem with a peice as expensive as the Casablanca II. It is true that Theta will put it right. My experience with them is that they won't ship it out until it has been bench tested for all functions and been kept on and playing for at least 24 hours. Meantime, you have no processor, plus the uncertainty regarding the wisdom of having bought the unit.


My upgrade went without a hitch and is now almost 3 months old. So, at least you can be sure that the problems aren't universal. The new power module does run hot. I wouldn't put the Casa. II in any kind of enclosure, and if stacked with other units put it on top. However, I wouldn't say it feels any hotter than many other electronics, and less hot than many amps.


Very sorry to hear about your troubles. Please keep us informed.

I find the Casablanca 2 to be towards the top side of warm, but not hot.

And the Casablanca 1 was more towards halfway to moderately hot.


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Steve Bruzonsky

Just got an update from "Walt", who works at Theta. BTW, he reads this forum. The only problem they could find was a bad video board, probably damaged during shipping. They stripped the processor, rebuilt it and it is now burning in. They plan to ship it back next week, due to the holiday. With regard to the heat buildup, it's probably due to the enclosed case it was in, albeit with good ventilation. For now, I'll leave the doors open when using it. This is a temporary situation, since we are redoing a rather large unfinished basement and my wife told me to get all my stuff out of it's current room. I mean I get a room all to myself for my audio/video equipment(depends on your outlook).


David


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DES