The amp on my 3 month old EP500 looks like that, but when I contacted tech support about removing the amp boot so that I could tighten down a post he said that the old amps have 3 screws to remove to take the boot off whereas the new amps the boot just pulls off. I must have an old amp because mine had 3 screws that I had to remove. Also mine has 2005 date codes all over it. I am guessing that my amp was an old style that was returned and factory refurbished.