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We're having some problems with our Allen and Heath XB-14 mark 2 console. We use two buttons on it frequently--the "ON" button for mic 1 (the host), and the "AUD" output button (so that we can switch back and forth between hearing the live PGM feed and the audio production bus). Those two buttons, a mere one-and-a-half years after purchase, are now "finicky"--they work, but only if you "press them just the right way". If you press them a certain way, usually they won't make good electrical contact--you have to "jiggle them" a bit with a fingertip to get them to work.
This seems outrageous for such a new board that is touted as being a great solution for small radio stations. We contacted Allen and Heath, and they basically punted it and said it's out of warranty, so we have no option other than to send it somewhere to get fixed. We could do that of course, but then we're afraid that we'll be in the exact same boat a year and a half from now, since clearly the issue is due to normal wear and tear (none of the other buttons have this issue, those are the two most frequently used buttons, and we opened up the console and saw there's no dust or dirt inside....plus, they worked fine for the first year or so).
Is this something that is normal for small inexpensive boards? (say, under $2,000)? We're looking at some Arrakis boards as replacements, but now we're paranoid that the same thing might happen no matter what board we buy. Is there a certain threshold of money spent that needs to occur in order to have buttons behave properly for more than a year or so?
This seems outrageous for such a new board that is touted as being a great solution for small radio stations. We contacted Allen and Heath, and they basically punted it and said it's out of warranty, so we have no option other than to send it somewhere to get fixed. We could do that of course, but then we're afraid that we'll be in the exact same boat a year and a half from now, since clearly the issue is due to normal wear and tear (none of the other buttons have this issue, those are the two most frequently used buttons, and we opened up the console and saw there's no dust or dirt inside....plus, they worked fine for the first year or so).
Is this something that is normal for small inexpensive boards? (say, under $2,000)? We're looking at some Arrakis boards as replacements, but now we're paranoid that the same thing might happen no matter what board we buy. Is there a certain threshold of money spent that needs to occur in order to have buttons behave properly for more than a year or so?
