High End Components - How long do they last?

Does the performance deteriorate over time even when everything is working properly? I guess the best analogy would be a car. Even though the car is still working but the acceleration is not what it use to be. Does the same thing happen to high end component.

I have found the life of state-of-the-art components is longer than a state-of-the-art mate.......and less costly.

Did some sports car racing at one time..and the(yes..less than politically correct) joke of the time went:

"what's the difference between being mated to a lovely lady and having a Ferrari?.......in the long run the Ferrari is cheaper and more reliable"....

Bryston has had 20 year warranties on their audio gear for a long time now, but from what I read, warranty work is seldom needed on their products. I think that says a a lot about Bryston, but also a lot about their competitors who presumably produce equipment just as good as Bryston-- OK, some worse, and maybe some even better.

I don't own any Bryston gear, but I certainly do respect their products and their warranty policy. Cheers. Craig.

Grandpad, great to hear I'm not the only one! Wished I had'nt sold my Revox years back, nor my AR D-79. The Stasis II cost me exactly $2800 hard earned bucks! The ML X-over was used and cost $800 and I still use it today to drive my Maggie basspanels, which I forgot to mention and which are also late seventies!They still function perfectly (and so do we audio -methusalems! (: )

I still have McIntosh MC-60 mono amps from the 1950's. Is this considered hi-end? They still sound wonderful btw and I can't part myself from them.