2. vintage
  3. 163060-142670

To re-cap or not to re-cap? That is the question

I've got some very fine 1980s vintage equipment I love and don't want to replace. Recently, I was able to locate a company that repaired the drivers in my ailing speakers; I'd auditioned half a dozen excellent speakers in my home in anticipation of needing to replace my Teslas, and none pleased me as much. The amplifier has been serviced by a local audio engineer I trust--but he describes himself as a "recovering audiophile," and may not be the right person to ask what I want to ask here. Namely: should I have the capacitors in the amp, and perhaps also in the speakers' crossovers, replaced? Is there any other service protocol I should consider?

On the principle "don't fix it if it ain't broke," I'm inclined to leave well enough alone. I don't notice any audible deficit. But perhaps the system could sound even better?

Your sage advice will be appreciated.
128x128snilf

Showing 2 responses by jdane

jdane
183 posts
 
How much time is there between the end of a burn-in period (for caps, cables, and power cords) and the moment to think about replacing them?
jdane
183 posts
 
Mid40sguy--   I was being a bit facetious, but I guess the serious point was  that this is not step-wise?  (Perhaps someone can help me here).   I assume there is no difference between (1)  'break in' and  (2) 'aging' or 'degradation' (let's just talk tubes since no one doubts the aging process there).   It's just a slow degradation from the moment you turn them on until they wear out completely, with an (arbitrary?) period in the middle where we like them the best?   Not arguing here.  Just trying to figure out what happens.  Or are some arguing that once things get 'broken in', then they hit some steady-state of (perhaps finite) perfection?  

This comes up with all kinds of things,  just in my experience--physical books,  Mason jars, cars, sails, hair brushes, engines.    Is the process that electronic equipment is subject to different in any significant way?  (I would assume for some components it might be:  they either work perfectly or not at all, but in that case, there really is no 'break-in' period.).  Again, not arguing.  Just asking what audiophiles and electronics experts believe is happening.
More to discover