Replacing Capacitors, I Don’t Wanna!

My 40- year old Sumo Andromeda amp has been in daily use now for several years. Perfectly quiet - no problems. If your ASR amp is the same I wouldn't worry. The only caps that might become problematic would be the power supply caps. There are typically two or four in most amps.

The replacement or upgrade to better capacitors will improve the sound so just don't replace, upgrade them and a few resistors to Mills or Audio Note non-magnetic.

Happy Listening

The problem with replacing parts with “better” parts is determining what IS a better part.  It is not always the case that more expensive parts with a popular buzz is the right choice.  If a part change can change the sound it can do so for better or worse.  I’ve heard tube amps whose sound dramatically changed in bad ways by swapping capacitors, in one case, very expensive Blackgates for cheap caps, making the amp sound broken. 

      The Emitter amps have an amazing number of electrolytics, between their power supplies and the capacitor banks in their amplifier chassis.

             The good news = Germans have a tendency to overbuild their gear.

       My guess would be: their engineers chose some of the best caps available, for that creation.

       Still: any electrolytics can dry out, start leaking, internally short, or explode, without any particular excuse/warning.   

                              The perfect electrolytic just doesn't exist.

        Given your system's initial price and what it would cost to repair it, if something catastrophic were to occur; a comprehensive testing of all those caps, by a competent Tech, would (no doubt) be a great preemptive/preventative measure.

         Kind of like: someone interested in their health, getting a physical now and then, by a good Physician.

         Electrolytics are one of those things that (especially when they dry out slowly) can have an effect like VERY slowly raising the temperature of the water around a frog, one degree at a time.    The critter's perfect at ease, until it croaks (about 40 degrees C).

          Likewise: slow changes in the presentation of sound systems and the adjustments our ears and brains can make.

                                             Happy listening!

As a retired electronics (mostly) vacuum tube technician, I can’t imagine any kind of electronics needing their capacitors replaced after just 13 years.  As someone else mentioned, it looks pretty over designed and I can’t imagine you even needing to think about replacing the Nichicon capacitors until the 20 to 30 year mark.  The only reason I’d say 20 years is if you started hearing hum issues or other sound quality issues like flabby bass, grainy, dirty sound quality, etc.  I think your technician is just trying to earn a buck.  Or maybe he’s thinking of upping the capacitance values of the capacitors which gives better filtering (not that it looks like it needs it) but also improves bass and makes the sound cleaner.  I’d just leave it alone unless you start having issues.  It looks like it was designed well and should serve you nicely.