Do Amps Lose Power over time?

Drastlin

I bought an adcom 5503 off ebay that is about 8 years old and it sounds great. The question is do things like capacitors and other components that run the amp slowly degrade over time. Can you have a technician look at the amplifier and maybe replace the parts that go out over time? Any information would be great!

Thanks

George Grand

You're in luck. I myself, run a "home" for amps that have basically outlived their usefulness. At eight years old, your amp is well into its "golden years" if you catch my drift. As one of your new audio advisors, I can't suggest strongly enough that you send me that amp and spare it some of the indignities that can accompany the advance of old age. Here, at my "amplifier preserve", it will see other amps, and sometimes speakers too. All at no charge to you, except for the initial shipping.

dorokusai

Unless the capacitor is leaking, bloated or the top is popped off...don't worry about it. This is not a common problem in modern electronics.

I think you should send it to George.

cfrizz

Simply priceless!!!!!:D

George Grand wrote:

You're in luck. I myself, run a "home" for amps that have basically outlived their usefulness. At eight years old, your amp is well into its "golden years" if you catch my drift. As one of your new audio advisors, I can't suggest strongly enough that you send me that amp and spare it some of the indignities that can accompany the advance of old age. Here, at my "amplifier preserve", it will see other amps, and sometimes speakers too. All at no charge to you, except for the initial shipping.

Drastlin

George Grand wrote:

You're in luck. I myself, run a "home" for amps that have basically outlived their usefulness. At eight years old, your amp is well into its "golden years" if you catch my drift. As one of your new audio advisors, I can't suggest strongly enough that you send me that amp and spare it some of the indignities that can accompany the advance of old age. Here, at my "amplifier preserve", it will see other amps, and sometimes speakers too. All at no charge to you, except for the initial shipping.

Heh, no way this old foggie going to get any rest any time soon. Just gonna have to push him till he blows.

madmax

The 5503 uses 30 MOSFETS, 10 per channel. These are wired in parallel. Each one handles maybe 20 watts each. If any of these go bad the remaining ones still do what they are supposed to but if one goes bad then you will be down 20 watts, two bad then down 40 watts and so on.

So, the quick answer is yes, with this type of amplifier you can have a loss of power over time even though it appears to work fine.

madmax

venomclan

George Grand wrote:

You're in luck. I myself, run a "home" for amps that have basically outlived their usefulness. At eight years old, your amp is well into its "golden years" if you catch my drift. As one of your new audio advisors, I can't suggest strongly enough that you send me that amp and spare it some of the indignities that can accompany the advance of old age. Here, at my "amplifier preserve", it will see other amps, and sometimes speakers too. All at no charge to you, except for the initial shipping.

They must live the good life there, taking turns powering Matrix demos and trying on different IC's for the latest fashion trends...

If it is any comfort to you, mt Adcom 535 circa 1994, is still running great.
Venom

heiney9

venomclan wrote:

They must live the good life there, taking turns powering Matrix demos and trying on different IC's for the latest fashion trends...

If it is any comfort to you, mt Adcom 535 circa 1994, is still running great.
Venom

As is my Adcom GFA-545 which I bought new in 1986. Most modern electronics if used consistenly and not abused will last a very long time. Adcoms, among many other amps, are built like tanks which usually leads to a long trouble free life.

No worries.

H9

dorokusai

madmax wrote:

The 5503 uses 30 MOSFETS, 10 per channel. These are wired in parallel. Each one handles maybe 20 watts each. If any of these go bad the remaining ones still do what they are supposed to but if one goes bad then you will be down 20 watts, two bad then down 40 watts and so on.

So, the quick answer is yes, with this type of amplifier you can have a loss of power over time even though it appears to work fine.

madmax

I'd bet money on a capacitor failing before a transistor, especially in vintage gear...and we're not talking vintage gear. I presume that means your replacing all your transistors next week?

I agree that the breakdown of the design is segmented, for a reason, but I have yet to replace a transistor to spec an amplifier. If it needed a FET, it was slagged anyways.

F1nut

madmax wrote:

The 5503 uses 30 MOSFETS, 10 per channel. These are wired in parallel. Each one handles maybe 20 watts each. If any of these go bad the remaining ones still do what they are supposed to but if one goes bad then you will be down 20 watts, two bad then down 40 watts and so on.

So, the quick answer is yes, with this type of amplifier you can have a loss of power over time even though it appears to work fine.

madmax

A factual, to the point answer to the question asked. Bravo!

Flash21

We are using my first real stereo receiver, a mid-70's vintage Realistic with a real wood case and a big flywheel tuning knob, rated at a sizzling 16 watts/channel, at our lake cabin... that thing still can rock out when desired...solid state lasts a long long time.