What is the average life expectancy of a DAC?

Hey if mahler is right on the inflationary cycle ( there is a global chip shortage) might be able to sell for more than paid....ha..
course don’t listen to me I have a Smithsonian basement full of obsolete tech DAT, HDdvd, VHS, SVHS, Nakamichi cassette anyone? 

Th electronic components will last a long time. The only real question is whether advancing performance will leave the high(ish) end DACs in the dust.    

But consider that the performance of a DAC will NOT diminish. It will stay the same (as long as the electronic components do not wear out) or maybe even increase as caps are used. So a given DAC will be as good in 10 years as it is today. It is only the improving performance of the competition that will change.  

just as a sidebar note...

among my little collection of dacs i have a 1997 vintage van alstine fet topp dac, employing the lovely philips tda1541a r2r nos dac chips and with tele 12ax7s... the old crystal semi input chip won’t read anything but a redbook input, but this thing sounds every bit as good as several well regarded current dacs i have tried in the $750-2000 price range, and a good bit better than numerous others i have tried...

Any electronic device will last as long as its worst quality or hottest running electrolytic capacitor.

If the design is proper, ie no other overloaded resistors exist, the first components which go are the electrolytic capacitors.

So, your DAC will also last as long as its worst electrolytic capacitor.

Good quality electrolytics will work up to about 15 - 20,000 hours at 85 or 105 degrees C.  Cheaper ones will give in earlier.  Your mileage may vary.

@afisher  - you made me laugh

In the USA, DAC life expectancy has dropped from 6.2 years to 5.5 years because of Covid. Japan hasn't seen any decrease. Brazil and Mexico, though are down almost 25%.  The vaccine should normalize the trends again.