Sansui AU-717

The 717 is on my wishlist!

I’ve recapped many amps myself. At a minimum, get the power supply caps looked at. Electrolytics have a shelf life of between 30 and 40 years. They dry out.

I don’t understand the desire to keep these things “original”. It’s not a vintage Ferrari… As long as the caps are replaced by a tech who knows what they are doing, you’re just going to improve the sound of it. And, it’s operational safely. A big cap goes, and it can have a cascading effect taking out transistors in its path.

I recently did a Marantz 7T, and put high end caps in it. Sounds amazing! When you recap a piece, all your doing is making it sound as it did when it was new - only better because caps are better now than what they were.

I also recapped a 2230 last year, and was going to sell it, but was gifted an Ariston RD11S that I’m restoring for fun. So I’m keeping the 2230 as they are a good match as a 2nd system.

Get the 717 power supply caps done at a minimum, and if you want to keep it running for another 40 years, get the whole thing done. Do some research online - diyaudio or audiokarma - and find out who the best rebuilders/restorers are and send it out to get done right. Unless you are comfortable buying the parts and doing it yourself.

when you get it back, it will sound as it did when new, only better…

@chocaholic 

If you are concerned, take the top off and look for puffed out or leaking Caps. If you see something, get it fixed. If you don’t, you’re probably good to go.

All the best.

every vintage piece I've had that sounded good, sounded better after a quality refurbishing...can't imagine all those 45 year old caps are in top shape...and like the oil change/spark plug analogy, if a cap goes, it may not go gently...so I would at least have a professional make the decision

I recapped a PS Audio power plant some years ago. Yah sure it worked fine and the caps were not bulging. They were however very dry. In fact, you could shake them and they sounded like baby rattles!!! So this nonsense of "it looks good to me" or "don't fix it if it ain't broken" is never something that I assume. 45 years is good luck on your part, but as someone mentioned here. it might not go quietly in the night and that's that. Hostages could be involved.