Q. I have a Sunfire True Subwoofer Junior that needs repair or replacement and wanted to get your thoughts before I proceed. Bill Flannery (now retired) at flannerysvintageaudio.com is a personal friend of the designer Bob Carver, and a mastermind regarding Sunfire and Carver gear. The website states, “all subwoofers with serial numbers starting with "99", "00", "01" or higher will no longer be accepted for service regardless of the model of the unit. The circuit boards in these units are of inferior quality compared to the earlier boards and are suffering from long term heat damage that makes a lasting repair unlikely.” Because my serial number starts with 00 I emailed him directly and asked if I should get it repaired locally. He replied that in his opinion it’s not worth the risk and even if it was fixed successfully, the odds the repair would last are pretty slim.
I would also appreciate your recommendations for a subwoofer similar in size and performance to what I have now. I use the subwoofer in a cabinet with a Marantz SR-19 receiver and Paradigm SE 1 speakers, and I’m looking for a cost-effective replacement.
—S.B., Eden Prairie, Minnesota
