How long should an amplifier last?

[sandyk]

9 hours ago, mansr said:

At that age, they would probably benefit from having their electrolytic capacitors replaced.

 

 That applies especially to the large value main filter capacitors in the power supply area.

[sandyk]

9 hours ago, davide256 said:

9 hours ago, infonut said:

 

1) capacitors have a finite life time. The big charging capacitors last pretty much forever but the smaller capacitors used in gain stage depending on type used can deteriorate.

 

That is incorrect.

 

Quote

2) volume/selector  knobs get dirt and ferrites

??? (is English your first language ? )

 I Presume that you mean the carbon (etc.) tracks of the potentiometers and their wipers. The potentiometers are best replaced, although you may be able to prolong their lifetime a little.

[sandyk]

7 hours ago, marce said:

I have a working Audiolab 8000A from 1993 (re-capped).

 The attached was a 100W/Ch. Mosfet amplifier build of mine from almost 30 years earlier that had been in a friend's garage for quite a few years.

 E.E. Suzy J. from DIY Audio measured it and asked if I had access to distortion measuring equipment as the results with one channel were so good. The other channel was however almost a "basket case" due to dried out electros.

( I had added a Zener diode to help improve the front end balance)