Replacing Capacitors, I Don’t Wanna!

If the unit is functioning properly ( no hum, visual inspections indicates no damaged/overheated/discolored caps I would advise against r&ring the caps.  As an experienced electronics hobbyist I've learned that one must be judicious when applying heat to circuit boards.  You observe that there are 50 caps which translates to at least 100 solders connections.  To r&r all of those caps would require at least 200 applications of your soldering tool to various solder joints on the board(s).  If you have a quality precision soldering station with assorted interchangeable tips, patience and a steady hand you might attempt it but only if those caps truly need replacing.  If this were a medical decision then a second opinion would be advisable.  After reading the other posts in response to your query is looks like there is a multitude of second opinions advising, "if it ain't broke don't fix it.

I'm using almost 50yo stuff that has never been touched but cleaning and adjustments. It still sounds wonderful! While some of the capacitors might have drifted, they still should all be in spec. The only way to know is to measure all of them. Doubt you would really even want that done unless something is wrong.

From what I have been told, it's usually the power caps that wear out first. Sadly they are also the most expensive and sometimes hard to find.

Just measured the caps on my crossovers with my 35yo speakers, they were all in spec but all over the place alone with the resistors. But sadly not the same from left to right. I'm going to recap my XO's soon. The reason was the L/R are not sounding the same, right was a little more defined, left was a bit brighter.

I just picked up a Mark Levinson no 27 amplifier from a client I believe the amp is from 1989-1990 before Levinson was booted and company bought off...

After testing it one channel sounds lifeless, no bass, tinny... I took it to the repair shop and was quoted $2200 for a full recap...

Im good at soldering so and the amp was free so I decided to see if I could fix it myself..

So far I have replaced the big main 45000uF caps and the 2200uF caps, after that I tested and it sounds amazing BUT I started tapping these other 8 caps on the amp stage and it starts going in and out, so now I'm in the process of looking for replacements, so far the biggest challenge is finding the parts, they are difficult to acquire and most are not available so I'm trying for stuff that is close in rating and values and size but it's been challenging. Good news is I think some Mundorf audio grade caps will work to replace those 8 bad caps, but they are higher uF and shorter, but I think they will work 

So far I've spent $400 and it will probably be another $200-$300 but this amp was $3500 back in 1989 which is like $12k in today's money and it sounds great.

send it back to the manufacturer.....you'll get it back perfect

If it ain’t broke…

don’t fix it…