|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
76.18.70.175
In Reply to: RE: How well do amps age? posted by husafreak on February 06, 2016 at 16:43:45
Generally, the better built the amplifier (solid state or tube), the better they will handle the aging process.
Still, an electrolytic cap will usually last 20-30 years, no matter how well built the amp is.
Steve
Follow Ups:
In theory at least :-) Power Supply Caps DO age /time out... 10/15 years is a good life span expectation.
Especially those that run Class A.
Also the rectifier diodes need replacing with a PS recap.
That said: Caps and Diodes are Cheapish
Foolish not to renew them
If they are designed conservatively and don't have heat issues, they can last indefinitely. Many studios have mic preamps, consoles, and amplifiers from the 1970s that are still making great recordings.
Forty-year-old Neve mic preamps stand up to anything new. Electronics in the great Studer tape decks have not been bettered and, providing the electrolytics are replaced every 25 years or so, sound just like new. The great Mac and Marantz tube amps can sound great for decades to come.
Tube gear should last forever, providing the trannys aren't damaged from misuse, and the 'lytics are updated. S/S gear can be a problem when transistors fail, as there are some transistors which are no longer made and for which there are no substitutes. It's pretty rare though - you can *almost* always find substitutes.
WW
"A man need merely light the filaments of his receiving set and the world's greatest artists will perform for him." Alfred N. Goldsmith, RCA, 1922
Post a Followup:
FAQ |
Post a Message! |
Forgot Password? |
|
||||||||||||||
|
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: