I really wish I’d taken the time to challenge Insight UK and /or Logitech over the sale of goods act, but the fact that the replacement part was only £8.90 from Farnell won me over. After it arrived, a Google for PCB repairs in Sussex found R and G Technology in Worthing. A quick email and a phone call later, and I went round the same day to have the part replaced. I gave the board and the replacement IC to David, and waited for 10 minutes while he removed the blown IC and put the new one in, all for £25. I’d definitely recommend them if you’re in a similar situation.

After taking it home and connecting the control pod it works perfectly. That cost me £35 compared to buying a new surround sound system. Yey for taking things apart!

This is not an entirely happy story though, as literally as soon as my 5.1 system started working again, my big TV died. But that’s another rant..

Fast-forward several months, and I opened up the control pod to take a look inside, and the cause of the malfunction was immediately obvious; the Cirrus Logic CS42526-CQZ had blown – DOH!

A quick search on Google shows I’m not the only person with the Z5500 suddenly dying (for various reasons), and here’s  someone with exactly the same problem as me.

I wonder if Logitech is aware of this problem? Additionally, perhaps it might be possible to get it repaired under the Sale of Goods Act: “the key time span is six years. That’s how long goods may be covered by the Sale of Goods Act.”

I’ll contact both Logitech and Insight to see what they say, and report back here.

Finally, the IC itself costs less than £10, so of the above fails, perhaps I can find a friend with the tools and skill necessary to replace surface-mount components.

[Update: It's fixed!]