I can only speak for myself. I built a Hafler 500 in 1975-76--can't remember that far back!--and use it today.
It was in the shop recently as I was able to score an Audio Research preamp, finally!, and wanted to be sure the Hafler was OK.
Tech said that the bias was WAY OFF for some reason, but once he adjusted it, everything measured within spec, and it sounds just fine (for a non-tube amp), old "caps" and all.
I do know that in my Sunn guitar amp they replaced the caps and possibly a few other parts, but these amps are used for playing instruments and taken on the road, so not surprised that some parts eventually fail or no longer perform in spec.
I am looking for an Audio Research tube amp to go with my preamp, and when I find one, it being tube and running much warmer than most solid state amps, I will have it checked out (can't afford a new one) for performance before putting it into the system. Also need an EC2 or EC3 so I can keep the Hafler on the bottom end of my Maggies, so will have to have it checked as well.
Old stuff is old; have it checked out before incorporating into your system and you should be fine.
Will something fail eventually? Of course. Back in the day, we got in a number of DOA items, so new is no guarantee either.
Cheers!
It was in the shop recently as I was able to score an Audio Research preamp, finally!, and wanted to be sure the Hafler was OK.
Tech said that the bias was WAY OFF for some reason, but once he adjusted it, everything measured within spec, and it sounds just fine (for a non-tube amp), old "caps" and all.
I do know that in my Sunn guitar amp they replaced the caps and possibly a few other parts, but these amps are used for playing instruments and taken on the road, so not surprised that some parts eventually fail or no longer perform in spec.
I am looking for an Audio Research tube amp to go with my preamp, and when I find one, it being tube and running much warmer than most solid state amps, I will have it checked out (can't afford a new one) for performance before putting it into the system. Also need an EC2 or EC3 so I can keep the Hafler on the bottom end of my Maggies, so will have to have it checked as well.
Old stuff is old; have it checked out before incorporating into your system and you should be fine.
Will something fail eventually? Of course. Back in the day, we got in a number of DOA items, so new is no guarantee either.
Cheers!