Tomasetti Repair · Longmont, CO
Tj Recommends
Honest recommendations based on repairability, consumer loyalty, and what I see on the bench. We don't sell any of this gear — we just fix it. Scores combine iFixit repairability ratings, Consumer Reports reliability data, and real bench experience.
🎵 Audio Gear
McIntosh
Built to last, built to be serviced. Schematics are available. Autoformer-coupled outputs are tanks. Tube models need regular bias checks but parts are standard. The MC-275 is still in production for a reason. These amps hold value and almost never reach "not worth fixing."
Marantz (Vintage)
The 22xx series is some of the most repairable gear ever made. Through-hole components, standard parts, and a huge community of knowledge. The 2270 and 2285 are the sweet spot. Modern Marantz (post-2000) is less repairable — surface-mount and proprietary ICs.
Pass Labs / First Watt
Simple circuits, overbuilt power supplies, and Nelson Pass publishes schematics. Class A bias drifts with age but the design is straightforward to service. Runs hot by design — that's not a flaw, it's the topology. Replace caps every 15-20 years and they'll outlive you.
Schiit Audio
Very reliable for the price. Modular design on many models. USB boards occasionally fail but are replaceable. Not as serviceable as vintage gear because of surface-mount components, but the company publishes schematics and supports repair. Best value in entry-level audiophile gear.
Modern Entry-Level Receivers
Surface-mount everything, proprietary DSP chips, and no published schematics. When they fail, the repair cost often exceeds replacement. Not because the parts are expensive — because you can't get them. The exception is Yamaha's higher-end Aventage line, which is more serviceable.
Krell
Enormous capacitor banks and massive Class A bias. These amps are overbuilt — but when the cap banks go, they're expensive to replace. Runs very hot by design (50W+ bias per channel). Worth fixing if you have one, but know what you're getting into. Parts are available but not cheap.
🔧 Common Electronics
Framework Laptop
The most repairable laptop ever made. Every part is user-replaceable with a single screwdriver. Expansion cards let you choose your ports. Schematics published. This is what Right to Repair looks like in practice. If you buy one laptop this decade, make it this one.
ThinkPad T-Series / X-Series
Service manuals available. Parts are abundant and standardized across generations. RAM and SSD are almost always socketed. The T480 and X1 Carbon Gen 6-9 are particularly repairable. Avoid the soldered-RAM models (some X1s) if you want upgradeability. These are the laptops IT departments buy because they can fix them.
Fairphone
Designed to be opened with a single screwdriver. Camera, battery, screen, USB port — all modular and user-replaceable. Software updates for 5+ years. Not the fastest phone, but the most ethical and repairable. Available in Europe; US availability limited.
Google Pixel
Google partnered with iFixit to sell genuine parts and publish repair guides. Screens, batteries, and charging ports are replaceable with standard tools. Better than Apple for repairability, but not as modular as Fairphone. The Pixel 7 and 8 series are the most repair-friendly.
Apple MacBook (M-series, 2021+)
Soldered RAM, soldered SSD, glued battery, and proprietary display calibration that requires Apple's software tools. Board-level repair is nearly impossible without schematics. Screen and battery replacements are possible but expensive. These are well-built machines that Apple designed to be replaced, not repaired.
Gaming Consoles (PS5, Xbox Series)
HDMI port replacement is the most common repair — and it's doable with hot air rework. Power supply failures are also common and repairable. Disc drives, however, are married to the motherboard and can't be swapped without proprietary tools. The Switch is more repairable overall: joystick, screen, and battery are straightforward.
Right to Repair resources: The Repair Association · FTC Right to Repair · iFixit Right to Repair · Wikipedia: Right to Repair