2. amps-preamps
  3. 177627-4741

How old is too old (for SS gear)?

I've personally not been too concerned about the age of used solid state amps and preamps, but recently a few pieces of gear I've purchased have either A) bit the dust or B) starting to make weird noises.

So now, I'm a bit gun-shy about buying used gear much older than a few years.

Do you have a certain age limit when considering the purchase of used gear?

Thanks.

128x128audiodwebe
artemus_5's avatar
artemus_5
1,924 posts
 

IME. 15-20 years. Caps start to dry up. They can be replaced if you know what you are doing. Living in fly over country, it is hard to find techs which will work on "stereo" equipment. We live in a throw away society now. most buy les expensive gear which is not cost effective to fix. Those with high end equip are not numerous enough to warrant techs  for our stuff. Specialties are the thing. We ain't special. 😀

audioguy85's avatar
audioguy85
2,018 posts
 

30 to 40 years....there are original Sugden class A still going strong even today....

ghdprentice
6,851 posts
 

It really depends on your expectations for sound quality. If it is not important, then they will work for decades. But there are deterioration of original sound quality as mentioned above and the advancement in sound quality / unit cost. 
 

if you are trying to put together the best system possible with a mid-fi or higher budget… over ten years is unlikely to be good… unless you get a great deal on something a little over that.

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