Recall: Thomson Recall of Home Entertainment Amplifiers

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE April 17, 2003 Release # 03-108

Amplifier Recall Hotline: (800) 613-0897 CPSC Consumer Hotline: (800) 638-2772 CPSC Media Contact: Scott Wolfson, (301) 504-7051 Thomson Media Contact: James Harper, (317) 587-4347

CPSC, Thomson Announce Recall of Home Entertainment Amplifiers

WASHINGTON, D.C. - In cooperation with the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), Thomson Inc., of Indianapolis, Ind., is voluntarily recalling about 50,000 home entertainment amplifiers. The amplifier can overheat due to a lack of ventilation, which can cause melting of the plastic front cover and pose a shock hazard to consumers.

Thomson has received 12 reports of the amplifiers overheating, some of which resulted in melting of the plastic front cover or faceplate. No injuries have been reported.

The recalled RCA® 650-Watt Home Entertainment amplifiers include model numbers RT2600, RT2600DVD and RT2600DVD5 and serial numbers beginning with 220 through 230. The model and serial numbers can be found on a label on the back of the unit in the lower left corner. The recalled units may also have an "A" as the last character in the model number. The amplifier units are silver and are about 17 inches wide, 16 inches deep, and 5 inches high. The amplifiers were manufactured in China.

Radio Shack, Best Buy, and other retailers sold the amplifiers from May 2002 through March 2003 for between $300 and $380.

Consumers should unplug the units immediately and contact Thomson at (800) 613-0897 anytime for information on how to receive a free repair. Consumers also can log on to the company's website at www.rca.com/recall