amplifier longevity

Comes down to design, parts quality, and heat.  Many amplifiers that we have repaired just were not that well designed and or did not have the proper design to remove the heat.  Think Counterpoint - mosfets back then were not that great and they were covered with a cap.  Against all understanding of how to remove the heat so they failed.  Also lasing long and producing good sound have nothing to do with each other.

Much has to do with the quality of the gear, the capacitors are the ones to fail first .

the better ones usually last much  longer as well as the coupling caps sound far better when name brand but cost much more $$ .

I had Metaxis monos one of which literally went up in flames and also one of the first Musical Fidelity Nu Vista preamps which went incendiary, less spectacularly, because of the dumb double decker design, in a small cabinet with no heat sinks. The designer should have been shot.

blackdoghifi, true.

I don't know what to say except thank-you to each and everyone of you!

This is my first  post, in my life(!) here on Audiogon or any forum, amazing!

Thank-you for the thoughtfulness, and sincerity, of the responses, its great!

Reviews from actual users are worth their weight in gold.

I will have to take more seriously the issue of heat and tube replacement that comes with valve amps, but the hands on that come with tube amps has its appeal.

Happy Holidays to everyone here and thanks again