2. amps-preamps
  3. 195069-53619

Old SS amps

What are people's experiences with old SS amps. And I'm talking old like close to 20 years. I guess this can be called vintage(though to me it's yesterday.)

 

Either you bought it new and have had it that long or you bought it used.

Is buying it used a really bad idea even though it was owned by one person with no service issues? Like an old Pass.

I hear something about capacitators needing to be replaced. Should it be avoided like the plague? Am very interested in one but don't want to be stuck with a cat in a sack.

Thanks for any thoughts.

roxy1927

Showing 1 response by helomech

helomech
1,836 posts
 

People often have their amps recapped unnecessarily. Many amps can go 40+ years before a capacitor goes bad. 

More often, in class A and A/B amps, the bias drifts. 

Outside of Class D and THX AAA designs, amp technology really hasn’t improved much in the last 35 years. Buying a flagship amp that is 20 years old but in great condition is a good way to get top-shelf performance for reasonable money, even if you do have to spend $1K to have it refurbished. 

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