Sending in an amp for rebuild?

Tekkis

How can you tell it is time to send an amplifier for a refresh when it seems to be functioning normally?

decal

Why bother if it's functioning normally?

Tekkis

Since this amp is from 91 or a little earlier I was wondering about age related degradation. Have used it about every day since about 96 so I am not sure what im listening for. The amplifier in question is mt Carver M-4.0t

soundfreak1

I think is a matter your commitment to the individual piece ie is it something you really love or is it just a piece you would replace due to a " good deal" comming available. I spent twice what i paid for my amp to restore and mod it than i paid for it, and dont regret it. It an amp that does exctally what i wanted and gives me the sound i was searching for. So if you are still searching for a particualar sound level no not worth it. I could never get the money out of my amp selling it as i have in it nor would i if i could! Imho hope that puts it in proper perspective. Same thing with modding vintage speakers in my opinion you do it to appreate them more and to keep them.

kidglove13

X2 On your attachment to the amp.

Any good amp that is vintage in age can only benefit from being rebuilt
Todays caps and such are much better quality than most used back then from what I have read and heard

I too had my Adcom 545II completely re-built and it cost me almost $200 to have it done, but I love the amp and it was alot cheaper than considering buying another amp.

If it is a good quality amp and it works for you I would have it rebuilt

hochpt21

I think he is asking if an amp can ever use a refresh or service due to age, or if you just wait until something goes wrong with it. For example, I have heard people say that around 15 yrs, you might want to get the caps replaced and the amp checked out etc. I have wondered the same thing as the op because I have been in the market for an Adcom gfp750, but wonder how long I would own it before it would need refreshed since those models can be a little older.

I don't have the answer, just trying to clarify the question.

kidglove13

I did what the OP is asking about.

My Adcom 545II still worked fine to my ears but given the age and not wanting to deal with any problems down the line I had it rebuilt

If you love the amp and believe it is a keeper then have it re-built, it will only make it better

hochpt21

kidglove13 wrote: »

I did what the OP is asking about.

My Adcom 545II still worked fine to my ears but given the age and not wanting to deal with any problems down the line I had it rebuilt

If you love the amp and believe it is a keeper then have it re-built, it will only make it better

That makes sense. About how old was your 545II when you did that?

kidglove13

hochpt21 wrote: »

That makes sense. About how old was your 545II when you did that?

I had it rebuilt beginning of this year

hochpt21

kidglove13 wrote: »

I had it rebuilt beginning of this year

Sorry, how old was the amp?

soundfreak1

As far as how long do "old" caps and other ele. last ??? Depends on so many factors, original quality of design and production, use, storage, voltages ( consisity) ect ect. But anything maybe from the 90's back can be ready for replacent depending on above mentioned factors. Realisticly how long can a cap stay within original specs??? Plus the advancements in tech. in new caps is dramatic so even newer equip can benifit.but 20 years or so "has" to be neering if even past expected "optium" life expectancy.those of us that buy and use vintage equip and have upgraded them can tell you there is a big diff. afted rebuild even if the piece sounded great nefore rebuild just due to the newer quality caps never mind fatigue on older caps. It imho is seldom "financially worth it unless it is a special piece to the owner or something very rare and valuable.unless you can do the upgrades yourself it can get expensive to pay a qualified tech to do the work plus shipping costs ect. So its a personal desision based on ypur desire for the piece not based on value or ever time or age sometimes.

11tsteve

soundfreak1 wrote: »

As far as how long do "old" caps and other ele. last ??? Depends on so many factors, original quality of design and production, use, storage, voltages ( consisity) ect ect. But anything maybe from the 90's back can be ready for replacent depending on above mentioned factors. Realisticly how long can a cap stay within original specs??? Plus the advancements in tech. in new caps is dramatic so even newer equip can benifit.but 20 years or so "has" to be neering if even past expected "optium" life expectancy.those of us that buy and use vintage equip and have upgraded them can tell you there is a big diff. afted rebuild even if the piece sounded great nefore rebuild just due to the newer quality caps never mind fatigue on older caps. It imho is seldom "financially worth it unless it is a special piece to the owner or something very rare and valuable.unless you can do the upgrades yourself it can get expensive to pay a qualified tech to do the work plus shipping costs ect. So its a personal desision based on ypur desire for the piece not based on value or ever time or age sometimes.

i have really been debating this, and feel it might be cost probative, but then you say say what you said about the same amp i have, and i want to ship it off to Big Sky right now....

kidglove13

hochpt21 wrote: »

Sorry, how old was the amp?

Do not remember exact date but I believe early 1990's

Like was said it all depends on how much you love the amp.

For my Adcom or other amps in that range it is almost never financially worth it to rebuild them, for me it kind of was because I love the amp it is a tank and a solid performer and will now last me another 20 years.

My rebuild cost me $200 and my guy was local to me so no shipping, still way less than buying another brand new amp with the same performance.

Any vintage audio piece is going to need a refurb at some point it all depends on what it is worth to you personaly

kidglove13

11tsteve wrote: »

i have really been debating this, and feel it might be cost probative, but then you say say what you said about the same amp i have, and i want to ship it off to Big Sky right now....

If it is a good quality vintage amp and you like it go for it.

You need to ask yourself, if I were to go out and by a brand new amp that will give the same performance +/- how much would it cost?

I bet the brand new amp would be far more expensive than rebuilding your vintage amp.

But then again you will never get your money out of it if you sold it.

You have to really like the piece of equipment to want to do this.

TNRabbit

Call Rolland Barr at HiTech Audio in Oregon:

Hi-Tech Audio
(503) 618-7605
2125 SW 19th St, Gresham, OR 97080-9781
http://www.hitechaudioltd.com

brgman

TNRabbit wrote: »

Call Rolland Barr at HiTech Audio in Oregon:

Hi-Tech Audio
(503) 618-7605
2125 SW 19th St, Gresham, OR 97080-9781
http://www.hitechaudioltd.com

+1 Rolland rebuilt my Sunfire and did a wonderful job.Super guy.

Nhpm510

Unless it sounds bad, or you believe it could be a hazard I wouldn't do it.

There is someone that specialize in Carver work on the West Coast (sorry, Name escapes me/I think it is different from Roland in OR). You might want to get a Carver specialist to tell you when and what to expect from a refresh.

BlueFox

My feeling on this is that everything electronic wears out and degrades over time, and this includes speakers. Unless something catastrophic happens, the degradation will be a slow gradual process. So, it is possible you might not even notice the degradation, even though it is there. However, if this has occurred, and you restore a piece of gear, it seems possible you might think the restored gear isn't working correctly since it will sound different than before the restoration.

Of course, this is all speculation on my part since I would never restore a 20 year old piece of gear, because after 20 years the technology will have advanced enough to make new gear superior to old gear.

tophatjohnny

Nhpm510 wrote: »

Unless it sounds bad, or you believe it could be a hazard I wouldn't do it.

There is someone that specialize in Carver work on the West Coast (sorry, Name escapes me/I think it is different from Roland in OR). You might want to get a Carver specialist to tell you when and what to expect from a refresh.

+1. a lot of tail chasing in the sickness of "how can I make it sound better" I have already realized. (and glad it didn't cost me the farm to figure that out) and like Nhpm510 stated, Unless it sounds bad, or you believe it could be a hazard, just continue to enjoy it. My (like new and oh so minty) Harmon Kardon PA 5800 is now a bedroom piece and replaced with a Acurus 125x5, and without buying the HK and hearing it, I wound not have known what a good amp sounds like. The Acurus just puts the HK to shame, and this lesson only cost me 550 dollars!!:razz: And I will run the Acurus until it blows up.....hope that isn't anytime soon. Just enjoy your amp, and try to have a good "burn in session" before listening to your favorite music!! "got that one from Dan!! Thanks again Dan!! OFD's:twisted:

TNRabbit

BlueFox wrote: »

Of course, this is all speculation on my part since I would never restore a 20 year old piece of gear, because after 20 years the technology will have advanced enough to make new gear superior to old gear.

Unfortunately, that just isn't so in MANY CASES.

Goldenboy72206

I have a adcom i want rebuild myself

kappclark

tophatjohnny wrote: »

+1. a lot of tail chasing in the sickness of "how can I make it sound better" I have already realized. (and glad it didn't cost me the And I will run the Acurus until it blows up....:

I have been enjoying a rebuilt Parasound 500A for sometime now, and plan to play that one into the ground..I am really enjoying the amp, and it simply doesn't owe me a thing !

sucks2beme

If you run it until a cap blows, you might just lose more than you bargained for.
Often it takes out other components, sometimes stuff you can no longer get.
Also, there may be some adjustments to be made on the amp to bring it back into spec.
It all comes down to how well you love the amp. I had an old stax amp/energizer
that sounded ok, but a cap changeout improved things quite a bit. You don't always
need to have them do it. I did my own.