Amplifier Longevity Question


When I got started with quality two-channel equipment, after my first pair of decent speakers (B&W CDM-7NTs), I bought a Magnum Dynalab MD208 receiver.  This was in approx. 2001; a leap of faith, based mostly on a Stereophile review.  About a year later, after upgrading speakers, I bought a McIntosh MC402 power amp, and used the Magnum Dynalab only as a preamp and tuner.

Although I've since changed sources, speakers, and cabling, the MD208 and MC402 are still in use today.  (For about 7 years, they weren't used much; before and since they've been played daily, or close to daily.)  I have no complaints about sound quality.  I have noticed zero SQ degradation, despite two household moves, and placement in living rooms for the entire period.  My system (with Sonus Faber speakers) sounds good to me, and to my wife, a retired classical musician.  I wish the MC402 didn't weigh about 115 lbs, and would rather that our last movers hadn't lost the MD208's remote, and somehow caused the volume knob to decrease its immediate responsiveness (a very minor issue), but otherwise, I have nothing to complain about.

But nothing last forever. And at this point, a decent audiophile system is important to us. I'm not itching to make a change, but I am curious to get some sense from my fellow A'goners about the remaining useful life of these two components, which have served me well.  What should I reasonably expect?

Thanks in advance for your thoughts.

gg107

Showing 2 responses by ghdprentice

OP,

Interesting hearing more about your system. I owned Olympica 3 speakers for many years. They were real game changers for me. To me, it also reinforces the potential for your system to be significantly improved with a tubed preamp… I am a big Audio Research fan and simply love their preamps… well, and phonostages… and amps. 
 

FYI, a classic pairing is Audio Research, Sonus Faber speakers and Transparent interconnects. I migrated in that direction for decades (not by knowing the association, but by careful component choices) and now… that is what I have. Best system, for me, that I have heard.

I’ll have to do some more research on the receiver…. At first blush it sounds like a really weak link in the system. But if you are OK with it and are not looking to upgrade.

 

Decreases in sound quality happen at glacial rates. So, it is unlikely you would notice unless you dropped in a new component.

 

But… the MAc. Heavy is good! While it may be a bit inconvenient… this has always been a really good sign for me in the lady 50 years of pursuing the high end. I have found the relationship between sound and weight virtually perfect. I don’t think I own a component less then 35 lbs. Don’t move it a lot. Get help. It is worth it.

Definitely 20 years or more are appropriate on an audiophile component… and a refresh from the manufacturer will replace capacitors and fading components.

Sonus Faber speakers are very natural an musical… not surprising you guys like the sound. Order a new remote.