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Power Amplifier Longevity

Hi All, 
I am venturing into the separate component world and was wondering how long a good power amp typically lasts.  I may have access to some older Lexicon CX and LX series amplifiers.  However, since they are discontinued and nearly 20 years old from what I understand, should I be concerned with how much longer they will last?  If they do need servicing, is this something that is available at a reasonable cost?  Or should I invest in newer equipment?

Budget is a concern for me which is why I am interested in these older (higher quality) amps at a reduced price versus spending the same amount on something newer, but lower quality.

At this time, I have a Marantz AV8802A and Vienna Acoustics speakers. 
Main L/R - Mozart Grand
Center - Maestro Grand
4 Surrounds - Waltz Grand

I thank you in advance for any advice provided on this subject.
Brian


brianb339
schubert
7,386 posts
 
I have owned about 50 amps .In my experience things start to go south after 15 years but as the decline
is slow your ears adjust to the decline till about 20 years .
audioman58's avatar
audioman58
4,384 posts
 
With quality gear well worth rebuilding 
the capacitors dry out ,
and while rebuilding improve  the design ,most all amplifiers or preamps 
use good reliable average parts ,coupling capacitors many good brands ,for the power supply  there to buy the best electro Lytics , get all1% resistors 
and signal path small values Vishay naked, Non magnetic Tantalum resistors brings natural character in the right areas. And for sure rewire 
Neotech makes excellent Teflon -0 Crystal copper wiring,as well as silver.
your connectors for sure make a difference ,for not much money 
WBT makes a less expensive all Gold Copper text gen for speaker terminals 
and rca, Furutech makes the best gold
or rhodium over copper IEC inputs 
from there there are many tweaks .
erik_squires
16,823 posts
 
No AV piece made more than a couple years ago is a good bet for longevity (excepting Theta Digital)


I am a big fan of Theta, lived very happily with a Casanova for years. Really should not have sold it. Anyway...

Sadly, since HDMI came out, Theta has usually lagged the industry by years. I always worry it’s on the brink of financial collapse. It took what, like 3 years for them to introduce an HDMI ready processor?

I wish this was not true. I was really ready to buy the new Casanova. Supernova? Something like that. << sigh >>

At least relatively, the MRX 720 will be cheaper to replace than a Casablanca will be to upgrade. :)
fabemond2010
3 posts
 
My Classe DR3 is 40 years old of Pure 25w in Class A and works real good ;)

cakyol's avatar
cakyol
940 posts
 
These are typically the factors that reduce any electronic device’s life:

1) Inrush current at turn on.
2) Temperature.
3) AC voltage spikes which causes the maximum allowable voltages to exceed for various components.

Sooooo.. pick an amp which:

1) Has an inrush current limiter (lights do not dim when you switch your device on).
2) Runs cool.
3) Components in it are rated at twice the maximum rated operating voltages.

Pass labs seems to be one of the the few exceptions where most run pretty hot (class A) and yet still are very reliable. I can only guess that they must be using absolutely superb components inside (like 105 degree C capacitors) , which may also explain their prices.




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