Need to recap my Classe Audio DR-8 Amps - need suggestions

kdross

Here is a post on re-forming, this guy knows more about electronics in his sleep, than some of the aggro know all's here.
 
" Electrolytics will have a very long shelf life.
But will NEED to be reformed slowly to achieve their specified parameters. I am not surprised that high quality 40 year old electrolytic's still meet specification after reforming."
   
Also from Silicon Chip Magazine on how to do it, if you have the gear and knowledge. (you have to pay for the full article)
 http://www.siliconchip.com.au/Issue/2006/October/Reforming+electrolytic+capacitors?res=nonflash.

As I said I've done many, never been a problem, so long as they didn't leak out any of their electrolyte fluid to start with.

Cheers George

Forget about it and use the amps and enjoy them..  If they have an issue, just contact the service centre and send them in (costly, but nice to have that available).

I sent a DR3-VHC in a few years ago (when Classe was owned by B&W) and they repaired it with no problem.

Just had an electrolytic cap crap out on me in my DAC1 D/A converter and just had it serviced locally - nothing 'touchy' like the VHC Darlington output devices that would give a tech any problems. 

Similarly, had a preamp (DR-7, an over  the top assault on the then state of the art preamp, with twin phono stages and a separate power supply the size of your DR8) give some problems, but had a local tech clean the contacts on the twin volume switches - not everything needs to go to the manufacturer.

Jon Soderberg of Vintage Amp Repair.   He was a part of Threshold back in the day.   Once in awhile something comes up for sale that has been refurbed by him.   Lot of good reports as to his work.  Ive never had him do anything for me but have communicated a number of times and would definitely go with him considering the wealth of experience he has and is located in Cali.  

I had my DR-8 recently serviced by Paul at EBC Electronics in Mansville NJ. I paid $550 including all parts and labor & NJ Tax. Made a huge difference in the overall sound and presentation. Any good electronics technician should be able to that.